Sperm count in Western men declined by over 50% in 40 years
- 7 years ago
JERUSALEM — A study has revealed that there has been a sharp decrease in the sperm count of Western men over the last 40 years.
The study followed 42,935 men who provided semen samples in the years between 1973 and 2011. It was published in the journal Human Reproduction Update.
The results show a 59.3% decline in total sperm count in men from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, whereas no significant decline was found in South America, Asia and Africa.
"If we will not change the ways that we are living and the environment and the chemicals that we are exposed to, I am very worried about what will happen in the future," Dr Hagai Levine, an epidemiologist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the author of the study told the BBC.
There is no clear reason for the apparent decrease but it is perhaps linked with body weight, smoking and lack of physical activity, according to the BBC.
Some have expressed skepticism over the findings, and suggest the tests don't accurately account for men suffering from infertility problems. Other industry experts say studies that claim to show a decline in sperm counts are more likely to get published than those that do not, which, if true, would indicate the public is getting skewed information.
The study followed 42,935 men who provided semen samples in the years between 1973 and 2011. It was published in the journal Human Reproduction Update.
The results show a 59.3% decline in total sperm count in men from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, whereas no significant decline was found in South America, Asia and Africa.
"If we will not change the ways that we are living and the environment and the chemicals that we are exposed to, I am very worried about what will happen in the future," Dr Hagai Levine, an epidemiologist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the author of the study told the BBC.
There is no clear reason for the apparent decrease but it is perhaps linked with body weight, smoking and lack of physical activity, according to the BBC.
Some have expressed skepticism over the findings, and suggest the tests don't accurately account for men suffering from infertility problems. Other industry experts say studies that claim to show a decline in sperm counts are more likely to get published than those that do not, which, if true, would indicate the public is getting skewed information.