Sperm count is decreasing globally, according to a study

A recent study led by Israeli epidemiologist Hagai Levine reveals that sperm count worldwide has been decreasing at a rapid rate. The study builds upon previous research conducted in 2017, which had been criticized for its limited focus on North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In contrast, this new study includes data from over 57,000 men across 53 countries, making it the largest meta-analysis ever conducted on the subject.

The study confirms the previous finding from 2017 that sperm counts have halved over the past four decades. Between the years 1973 and 2018, the concentration of sperm in men who were not known to be infertile decreased by over 51 percent, from 101.2 million to 49 million sperm per millimeter of semen.

The research indicates that this decline is continuing in the 21st century at an accelerated pace, with sperm counts dropping by approximately 1.1 percent each year. The study emphasizes the need for immediate action and further research to address the decline and prevent further disruption of male reproductive health.

It's important to note that sperm count is not the sole factor influencing fertility. The speed of sperm movement, which was not measured in the study, also plays a crucial role. Despite the decline, the lower sperm concentration of 49 million is still within the range considered "normal" by the World Health Organization, which is between 15 million and 200 million sperm per milliliter.

Experts, including Sarah Martins da Silva, an expert in reproductive medicine at the University of Dundee, have expressed concern about the doubling rate of decline in sperm count since 2000. However, the exact reasons for this decline remain unknown. Exposure to various factors such as pollution, plastics, smoking, drugs and prescribed medication, as well as lifestyle factors like obesity and poor diet, have all been suggested as potential contributors, but their effects are not well understood.

While some experts remain skeptical about the quality of the data and the conclusions drawn from the study, others argue that the consistent findings and large sample size make it difficult to ignore the decline in sperm count. The study has prompted a call for further research and action to address this issue and prevent further disruption to male reproductive health.