Male Fertility Study: 5 Reasons For The Global Decline in Male Sperm Counts

Over the past 50 years, the concentration of sperm ejaculated by men during ejaculation has decreased by 51%.

This is one of the main findings of a recent study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (USA).

The team calculated that in the 1970s, men had an average of 101 million germ cells per milliliter of semen. Since then, that number has dropped to 49 million.

In addition to quantity, there is evidence that the quality of men's gametes (germ cells; gamete) is also declining: over the past 50 years, men's sperm concentration at the time of ejaculation has declined by 51%.

"The most striking thing we see is the loss of sperm motility," says Moacir Rafael Radaelli, a urologist and vice president of the Brazilian Society for Assisted Reproduction. "The lack of this motility attribute decreases the ability to fertilize."

 

 

 

This continued decline has set off alarm bells among public health professionals.

 

Another Brazilian urology association, Dr. Eduardo Miranda, says, "It's worrisome because we're seeing this deterioration accelerate and we really don't know where it's going to end."

New trend in women's lives: demand for egg freezing is skyrocketing
Fertility treatments: career challenges for those women entering early menopause
Men's health: Reproductive fertility issues are no joke
The science of sex: Eggs have the ability to 'pick and choose sperm
In addition, the rate at which men are losing sperm has increased in recent years.

According to studies conducted in Israel and the United States, between the 1970s and 1990s, the concentration of gametes declined by 1.16% per year. However, starting in the 2000s, the rate of decline rose to 2.64%, which equates to more than double the decline.

Click to know the Chinese drugs for treating Testosterone and sperm concentration problems

Ask more:

wallence.suen@wecistanche.com 0015292862950

This is a global phenomenon.

 

Scientists have observed a decline in all-male gametes. Although the numbers are faster in Europe, Africa, Central America and South America. But what is the reason behind this phenomenon? Experts tell the BBC that there are at least five reasons. The good news is that there are ways to reverse or mitigate them.

 

1. Obesity Effect for Testosterone Decreasing

It can be confirmed that excess weight brings about changes that are harmful to sperm.

The growth of fat-storing tissues also releases inflammatory substances that directly affect testosterone (Testosterone), one of the most important hormones for the production of male gametes. Dr. Miranda explained that being overweight also produces what is known as oxidative stress, a process in which various cells in the body are damaged. He also stressed that, in addition, obese people have more fat in the genital area, which is bad for sperm.

The testes, which make and store reproductive cells, need to be between 1C and 2C below body temperature to function properly, which is why the scrotum is outside the human body.

But the increase in fat heats up the reproductive organs, which stop working.

The World Health Organization (WHO) calculates that 39% of men worldwide are overweight, while 11% have obesity problems. This statistic helps explain the decline in the percentage of sperm over the past 50 years.

2. Substance abuse Effect for Testosterone Decreasing

Alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, marijuana, coca base, anabolic steroids ...... Do you know what all these drugs have in common? They all affect the health of male gametes.

"Some of these substances directly destroy the germ cells that produce sperm," concludes Dr. Miranda.

Other drugs indirectly affect the production of some of the hormones that stimulate testicular function. The most commonly cited example by experts is the replacement of testosterone through pills, gels and injections and its indiscriminate use as a muscle-building treatment.

"This is a market that has grown wildly and frighteningly in recent years," warns Dr. Ladali.

He explained that when the hormone is replaced for no reason, the body is told that it "no longer needs to produce it," resulting in even testicular atrophy, or an eventual zero sperm count in the semen, a condition known as azoospermia.

 

3. Sexually transmitted diseases Effect for Testosterone Decreasing

Diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea caused by bacteria can cause inflammation of the epididymis. The epididymis is attached to the top of the testicles and is responsible for storing sperm. Any problem in this area poses a risk to the survival of the gametes.

WHO estimates that in 2020 alone, there will be 129 million new cases of chlamydia and 82 million new cases of gonorrhea in men and women. This rate has remained stable or trended upward in recent decades.

Dr. Ladali adds a third pathogen to the list: human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, which he says is also known to affect sperm production and even DNA.

 

4. LAPTOP Effect for Testosterone Decreasing

Since the testicles need to be kept between 1 and 2 degrees Celsius cooler than the rest of the body, studies published over the past decade have shown that the habit of working with a laptop on your lap poses an additional risk to the "gamete factory.
That's because the device's battery gets hot - and can end up "cooking" the sperm.

Miranda noted that other habits related to heat can also pose risks to reproduction - such as long hot baths or saunas.

Then there's technology - the doctor cited the potential negative effects of electromagnetic waves, phone signals and even wireless Internet. In experimental studies conducted in the lab, he says, "factors such as wi-fi and electromagnetic waves affect sperm, but it's still not possible to determine whether these technologies actually damage these cells."

 

5. Endocrine disruptors Affect for Testosterone Decreasing

Finally, experts draw attention to a list of toxic compounds commonly referred to as endocrine disruptors.

The list includes pollutants detected in the atmosphere, as well as plastics and pesticides.

Their molecular structure is very similar to that of the hormones in our bodies, so they are able to adapt to cellular receptors and trigger processes that "no longer require the production of hormones". In recent studies, one of these processes was found to appear to affect male fertility.

"But we're still not sure of the magnitude of the problem, and many studies are underway to determine this," Radali said.

Future scenarios
In addition to the environmental and behavioral factors behind declining sperm counts, there are two inherent issues that contribute to the phenomenon.

The first of these is genetics. It is estimated that between 10 and 30 percent of cases of fertility difficulties are related to problems with male DNA.

 

The second reason has to do with aging, and the fact that men have children later in life.

 

"We know that fertility declines throughout the life course. Although the decline is less pronounced in men than in women, hormones important for gamete production are declining," explains Ladali.

However, if we consider that sperm counts have declined by 51 percent in 50 years, and that the rate at which this is happening has accelerated over the past two decades, is this number getting closer to zero?

If this rate of decline does continue at its current level, the concentration of germ cells in semen will be almost zero by 2050.

But Dr. Miranda doesn't think this apocalyptic scenario will become a reality.

"The trend is for the situation to get worse, but at some point the process will stall and we will reach a point where perhaps with the help of new technology we can change the situation," he predicts.

 

What can be done?
Men who want to have children can increase their chances of success by making lifestyle changes to reverse any damage done to their testicles.

For example, they can lose weight through a balanced diet and regular physical activity, and cut down or stop using alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs altogether.

It is worthwhile to use condoms to avoid infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea if you are having sex with a non-regular partner for the sake of stimulation and have no intention of becoming pregnant. People who are vaccinated against HPV in early adolescence are also better protected from the effects of the virus on their bodies.

If, even after all these lifestyle changes, difficulties in having children persist, then a visit to the doctor is recommended.

Medical guidelines suggest that the time to seek expert help depends on the age of the female partner.

Dr. Miranda explains, ""If the woman is under 35, the couple should try to conceive during the year, have regular intercourse about 3 times a week and monitor the fertility period."

However, if the partner is over 35 years old and is still unable to conceive after more than 6 months of conception, it should be a warning sign.

That's because egg reserves start to decline more rapidly at that age - and Miranda says trying to find answers 12 months later may be a critical waste of time.

"The involvement of the couple involved is necessary in order to discover the possible causes and find the best treatment," explains Ladali.

If the problem is in the male, specialists often prescribe antioxidant-rich vitamin supplements to help protect the testicles. Or supplements may also be needed to regulate hormones.

Miranda told the BBC that it is, of course, possible to treat some of the diseases causing the problem with medication and surgery.

For example, "bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, and anatomical defects in the reproductive system can be treated surgically," he concluded.

As a last resort, the couple could use assisted reproduction techniques, such as in vitro fertilisation.