The median man will have a sperm count of zero, meaning that one half of all men will produce no sperm at all, and the other half will produce so few as to be functionally infertile. Current trends in sperm counts, if extrapolated, suggest that the species may have trouble reproducing as early as 2050.
A team of researchers from Israel, the US, Denmark, Brazil and Spain have analyzed sperm count data from 53 countries, in regions that had not previously been considered in such studies.
- The researchers have been able to show, for the first time, that men in Latin America, Asia, and Africa are also suffering from exactly the same "significant decline" in total sperm counts (TSC) and sperm concentration (SC) as their counterparts in the West.
- The decline in TSC and SC has been accelerating globally since 2000.
We urgently call for global action to promote healthier environments for all species and reduce exposures and behaviors that threaten our reproductive health," Levine adds.
- "Our findings serve as a canary in a coal mine. We have a serious problem on our hands that, if not mitigated, could threaten mankind's survival."
Causes of Declining Sperm Counts
- Lifestyle choices and chemicals in the environment are playing an important role
- Obesity and inactivity are powerfully implicated in male fertility decline
- Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA and phthalates
- Microplastics - tiny pieces of plastic that act as vectors for endocrine disruptors - have been found in arctic ice, circulating on wind currents, and at the bottom of the oceans
"The troubling declines in sperm concentration and total sperm counts at over 1 percent each year as reported in our paper are consistent with adverse trends in other men's health outcomes, such as testicular cancer, hormonal disruption, and genital birth defects, as well as declines in female reproductive health. This clearly cannot continue unchecked," explains Swan.
- These concerning trends have been given new political importance by the recent Tucker Carlson Original, “The End of Men,” which explores the decline in male fertility, as reflected in sperm counts and testosterone levels, and its implications for the broader health and success of the nation.
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