(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new report finds men who are infertile have a better chance of developing testicular cancer.

Researchers analyzed data collected from infertile couples over a 21 year period and compared those statistics to the state cancer registry. The researchers learned men with male factor infertility were 2.8 times more likely to develop testicular than men without the condition.

While researchers did consider that infertility or its treatment could cause testicular cancer, they said it is highly improbable since many treatments do not use specific medical or surgical treatments. Instead, the authors of this study suggest a common exposure underlies fertility and testicular cancer. They said either faulty DNA repair, or errors in the way the body responds to small areas of damage in its genetic material may contribute to both conditions, as well environmental factors.

SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, February 2009