Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  With regard to male infertility, the exact prevalence is still uncertain, as male infertility is not a reportable disease. Furthermore, payment for male infertility treatment is usually private, and hence, treatments are not reflected in medical insurance statistics. […] Agarwal et al estimated the overall pure male factor infertility could range between 2.5% and 12%. In North America, the estimated male infertility rate is between 4.5% to 6%, while it’s 9% in Australia and could be as high as 8% to 12% in Eastern Europe. […] A study by Bayasgalan et al estimated the cause of infertility due exclusively to a male factor at 25.6%. A similar study conducted by Thonneau et al found that among the French population, a prevalence of 20% of all infertility was due exclusively to a male factor.

• #2 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  Similarly, Philippov et al used a WHO questionnaire in Western Siberian to show a rate of 6.4%, while in Nigeria, Ikechebelu et al found a male infertility prevalence of 42.4%. […] For most practical purposes, we assume that about one-sixth of all couples worldwide have an infertility issue and that the male factor infertility is significant in about half of cases and is the only cause in about 20% to 30% of cases. […] Of great concern is the widely reported general trending, over recent decades, of reductions in sperm counts globally. The average sperm count in 1940 was 113 million/mL but dropped to 66 million/mL in the 1990s. This trend has continued worldwide as the mean sperm count declined by 51.6% between 1973 and 2018. […] Even more concerning is that the rate of decline increased after 2000, from a decline of 1.16% per year post-1972 to 2.64% annually post-2000.

• #3 Oligospermia (Low Sperm Count): Causes & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22477-oligospermia-low-sperm-count

  Oligospermia (AH-li-go-SPER-me-uh) is the medical term for a low sperm count. A typical sperm count ranges from 15 million to over 200 million sperm per 1 milliliter of semen. If you have oligospermia, you have fewer than 15 million sperm in 1 milliliter of semen. […] A low sperm count can cause male infertility. Having a low sperm count doesn’t mean your partner can’t get pregnant. But it can take longer or be more challenging. […] Varicoceles are one of the most common causes of oligospermia. About 4 out of 10 males with low sperm counts have a swollen vein in their scrotums. […] Each oligospermia cause has a different prognosis. But many causes are treatable. If a healthcare provider diagnoses you with oligospermia, you’ll work together to determine the cause and your treatment options. […] It depends on the cause and whether it’s treatable. Pregnancy may still be possible through unprotected sexual intercourse. You can also explore assisted reproductive techniques, like IVF. A healthcare provider can explain treatment options and family planning with you.

• #4 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Male-Infertility-Epidemiology.aspx

  Infertility issues plague nearly 15% of couples in the world. […] Of these cases nearly 30% are due to male infertility issues. […] There is no way to accurately pinpoint cases of male infertility across the globe, but recent studies conducted on a region and country basis by different organizations have made it possible to gain a better understanding of the disorder. […] The estimated number of infertile men in the world ranges between 30,625,864 and 30,641,262. […] The highest concentration of male infertility was found in Europe. […] The study concluded that nearly 50% of infertility cases rest with women while 30% are caused due to male infertility issues. […] A low sperm count can make it difficult for a couple to conceive. A count of less than 20 million/mL is considered low and the condition is referred to as Oligospermia.

• #5 Global, regional and national burden of male infertility in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019: an analysis of global burden of disease study | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16793-3

  In 2019, the global prevalence of male infertility was estimated to be 56,530.4 thousand (95% UI: 31,861.590,211.7), reflecting a substantial 76.9% increase since 1990. […] The global ASPR stood at 1,402.98 (95% UI: 792.242,242.45) per 100,000 population in 2019, representing a 19% increase compared to 1990. […] The burden of male infertility in the High-middle SDI and Middle SDI regions exceeded the global average in terms of both ASPR and ASYR. […] The global burden of male infertility has exhibited a steady increase from 1990 to 2019, as evidenced by the rising trends in ASPR and ASYR, particularly in the High-middle and Middle SDI regions. […] Notably, the burden of male infertility in these regions far exceeds the global average. […] Given these findings, it is imperative to prioritize efforts aimed at improving male fertility and reproductive health.

• #6 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  Similarly, Philippov et al used a WHO questionnaire in Western Siberian to show a rate of 6.4%, while in Nigeria, Ikechebelu et al found a male infertility prevalence of 42.4%. […] For most practical purposes, we assume that about one-sixth of all couples worldwide have an infertility issue and that the male factor infertility is significant in about half of cases and is the only cause in about 20% to 30% of cases. […] Of great concern is the widely reported general trending, over recent decades, of reductions in sperm counts globally. The average sperm count in 1940 was 113 million/mL but dropped to 66 million/mL in the 1990s. This trend has continued worldwide as the mean sperm count declined by 51.6% between 1973 and 2018. […] Even more concerning is that the rate of decline increased after 2000, from a decline of 1.16% per year post-1972 to 2.64% annually post-2000.

• #7 How pollution is causing a male fertility crisis

  https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230327-how-pollution-is-causing-a-male-fertility-crisis

  Sperm quality appears to be declining around the world but is a little discussed cause of infertility. […] Male infertility contributes to approximately half of all cases of infertility and affects 7% of the male population. […] Research suggests the problem may be growing. Factors including pollution have been shown to affect men’s fertility, and specifically, sperm quality with potentially huge consequences for individuals, and entire societies. […] There is mounting evidence that pollution may be at least partly behind declining sperm quality and sperm counts. […] In 2022, Levine and his collaborators published a review of global trends in sperm count. It showed that sperm counts fell on average by 1.2% per year between 1973 to 2018, from 104 to 49 million/ml. From the year 2000, this rate of decline accelerated to more than 2.6% per year.

• #8 Semen quality – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen_quality

  A 2017 review and meta-analysis found sperm counts among Western men (i.e. men in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and North America) declined 5060% between 1973 and 2011, with an average decline of 1.4% per year. […] The meta-analysis found no indication the decline is leveling off. […] The decline among North American and Australian/European men is similar. […] The decline in sperm count among men in South America, Asia, and Africa is less than men in Western countries, though the amount of decline in these regions is uncertain. […] The reasons for the decline are not known with certainty, but it may be associated with chemical exposure, maternal smoking during prenatal development, pesticide exposure, or lifestyle changes during adulthood. […] Testicular cancer, Leydig cell tumours and Sertoli cell tumours are also associated with reduced sperm count and quality.

• #9 Male Fertility 101: What You Didn’t Learn in Sex-Ed | Progyny

  https://progyny.com/education/education-male-fertility-101-what-you-didnt-learn-in-sex-ed/

  Approximately one in eight heterosexual couples face infertility, which is defined as the inability to conceive a healthy pregnancy within six to twelve months while having unprotected sex. […] About one third of these cases are due to the male partners inability to create and ejaculate healthy sperm, also known as male factor infertility. […] One third of cases are a result of male factor infertility, such as low sperm count, and the final third are due to a combination of subfertility factors from both partners, or are unexplained. […] Several recent studies have indicated that average sperm count and quality has declined significantly up to 50% in the Western world. […] A research review published in 2017, titled Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis, looked at the results of over 42,000 semen analyses performed between 1973 and 2011.

• #10 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals-2658635273.html

  Global average sperm count is declining at a quicker pace than previously known, chemical exposure is a suspected culprit. […] Now, new research compiling the results of those studies has found that sperm count has dropped dramatically around the world, and the rate of decline is accelerating. […] In a new analysis, researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center, the University of Copenhagen, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, among others, found that sperm count globally dropped by more than half between 1973 and 2018, and that the decline is accelerating: Since 1972, sperm count has dropped by about 1% each year. Since 2000, the annual decrease has been, on average, more than 2.6%. […] The findings raise concerns that an increasing number of people will need assistance to reproduce, as well as concerns about the overall health of human society, since low sperm count is linked to higher rates of some diseases.

• #11

  https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-study-of-sperm-counts-over-time/

  A study published in Human Reproduction Update looks at temporal trends in sperm count. This publication considers data on sperm counts from 233 scientific studies published since 1981. Their findings confirm that sperm counts are falling by around 1.1% per year, with an overall decline of 51.6% in 45 years. Of concern, the rate of decline has doubled since 2000. Infertility is a global health problem. Male fertility problems are increasingly common and account for almost half of all cases. The conclusion is that sperm counts are falling. The study speaks for itself by reaffirming that sperm count in Western men of reproductive age has been on the decline for decades and adds new data to show that this appears to be probably a world-wide phenomenon. Based on the present analysis the decline appears to be continuing (and maybe worsening). The key point that needs to be made is that this is desperately bad news for couple fertility. The authors have updated a previous analysis on worldwide trends in sperm count, to include global regions outside The West. In keeping with their previous report, a global reduction in sperm counts is observed. This important study serves to highlight an important area of health concern. The conclusions fit with a growing narrative that the average health men is declining from reasons such as obesity, reduced exercise, pollution, and environmental chemical exposure. Evidence linking all of these conditions to male infertility is published.

• #12 Semen quality – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen_quality

  A 2017 review and meta-analysis found sperm counts among Western men (i.e. men in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and North America) declined 5060% between 1973 and 2011, with an average decline of 1.4% per year. […] The meta-analysis found no indication the decline is leveling off. […] The decline among North American and Australian/European men is similar. […] The decline in sperm count among men in South America, Asia, and Africa is less than men in Western countries, though the amount of decline in these regions is uncertain. […] The reasons for the decline are not known with certainty, but it may be associated with chemical exposure, maternal smoking during prenatal development, pesticide exposure, or lifestyle changes during adulthood. […] Testicular cancer, Leydig cell tumours and Sertoli cell tumours are also associated with reduced sperm count and quality.

• #13 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals-2658635273.html

  We have clear evidence that there is a crisis in male reproduction, Hagai Levine, lead author on the study and an epidemiologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told EHN. […] The study builds on the teams previous research, which showed a decline in sperm count in North America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia of 28.5% between 1973 and 2011. […] The research found that the average global sperm count in 2018 was 49 million per milliliter of semen. […] She said the results could mean that in the coming decades, large swaths of the global population of men could be subfertile or infertile, or could require assisted reproduction techniques, like in vitro fertilization (IVF), hormone treatment, or a technique called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which sperm are directly injected into an egg.

• #14 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  With regard to male infertility, the exact prevalence is still uncertain, as male infertility is not a reportable disease. Furthermore, payment for male infertility treatment is usually private, and hence, treatments are not reflected in medical insurance statistics. […] Agarwal et al estimated the overall pure male factor infertility could range between 2.5% and 12%. In North America, the estimated male infertility rate is between 4.5% to 6%, while it’s 9% in Australia and could be as high as 8% to 12% in Eastern Europe. […] A study by Bayasgalan et al estimated the cause of infertility due exclusively to a male factor at 25.6%. A similar study conducted by Thonneau et al found that among the French population, a prevalence of 20% of all infertility was due exclusively to a male factor.

• #15 Global, regional and national burden of male infertility in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019: an analysis of global burden of disease study | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16793-3

  The burden was particularly pronounced in certain regions, such as Western Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and East Asia, which exhibited the highest prevalence rates. […] The top five ASPR and ASYR countries rankings were not exactly the same but similar, mostly in Western African countries. […] In high fertility areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, lack of infertility prevention and treatment services was considered a form of population control.

• #16 Reasons for worldwide decline in male fertility – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32168194/

  Purpose of review: To review the evidence regarding a decrease in worldwide sperm parameters and discuss potential causative factors. […] Recent findings: The topic of worldwide decline in sperm parameters is contentious; however, recent high-quality studies have demonstrated that there is indeed a decline in sperm parameters. Several retrospective and basic science studies have shown possible links for this decline in sperm parameters such as obesity, diet, and environmental toxins. […] Summary: There exist substantial data to suggest a decline in sperm counts over time. Although causative factors have yet to be fully elucidated, potential causes include, increased rates of obesity, poor diet, and exposure to environmental toxins. How this decline in sperm counts reflects fertility has yet to be determined. As such, further studies are necessary to evaluate whether this decline in sperm count correlates with decreased fecundity and how to identify and mitigate potential causative factors.

• #17 Semen quality – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen_quality

  A 2017 review and meta-analysis found sperm counts among Western men (i.e. men in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and North America) declined 5060% between 1973 and 2011, with an average decline of 1.4% per year. […] The meta-analysis found no indication the decline is leveling off. […] The decline among North American and Australian/European men is similar. […] The decline in sperm count among men in South America, Asia, and Africa is less than men in Western countries, though the amount of decline in these regions is uncertain. […] The reasons for the decline are not known with certainty, but it may be associated with chemical exposure, maternal smoking during prenatal development, pesticide exposure, or lifestyle changes during adulthood. […] Testicular cancer, Leydig cell tumours and Sertoli cell tumours are also associated with reduced sperm count and quality.

• #18 How pollution is causing a male fertility crisis

  https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230327-how-pollution-is-causing-a-male-fertility-crisis

  Levine argues this acceleration could be down to epigenetic changes, meaning, alterations to the way genes work, caused by environmental or lifestyle factors. […] „This [declining sperm count] is a marker of poor health of men, maybe even of mankind,” says Levine. „We are facing a public health crisis and we don’t know if it’s reversible.” […] Individual lifestyle changes may not be enough to halt the decline in sperm quality. Mounting evidence suggests there is a wider, environmental threat: toxic pollutants. […] Climate change may also negatively impact male fertility, with several animal studies suggesting that sperm are especially vulnerable to the effects of increasing temperatures. […] An advanced paternal age has been associated with lower sperm quality and reduced fertility. […] There is a growing call for greater understanding of male infertility and new approaches for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment as well as an increased awareness of the urgent need to tackle pollution.

• #19 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals-2658635273.html

  Sperm count is not only a reproductive concern, but an indicator for other health problems in men, and is used as a predictor for male longevity. […] This decline in sperm count could also suggest other health concerns, he said. […] Though the reasons for the drop were not discussed in the paper, scientists have known for decades that certain environmental factors, like exposures to pesticides (such as atrazine, alachlor, and diazinon) and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), can have impacts on reproductive health. […] Swan and Levine said exposures to chemicals in the environment and other factors likely all play a substantial role in the sperm count trend. […] Additionally, both Swan and Levine said climate change could be a factor, both due to climate-related stress and actual fluctuations in temperature, since heat waves are linked to decreases in sperm quality. […] To truly tackle the problem, though, much more research is needed, said Swan. […] Levine also said better surveillance tools will be crucial to understanding the problem more deeply.

• #20 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals

  Levine said it was surprising that the rate of decline was accelerating, rather than slowing down. […] Sperm count is not only a reproductive concern, but an indicator for other health problems in men, and is used as a predictor for male longevity. […] This decline in sperm count could also suggest other health concerns, he said. […] Though the reasons for the drop were not discussed in the paper, scientists have known for decades that certain environmental factors, like exposures to pesticides (such as atrazine, alachlor, and diazinon) and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), can have impacts on reproductive health. […] Swan and Levine said exposures to chemicals in the environment and other factors likely all play a substantial role in the sperm count trend.

• #21

  https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/global-decline-sperm-concentrations-linked-common-pesticides-rcna125164

  A prolonged decline in male fertility in the form of sperm concentrations appears to be connected to the use of pesticides, according to a study published Wednesday. […] Researchers compiled, rated and reviewed the results of 25 studies of certain pesticides and male fertility and found that men who had been exposed to certain classes of pesticides had significantly lower sperm concentrations. […] A report last year found that sperm counts were falling in every region of the globe and the pace of that decline was accelerating. […] Its concerning. […] The new analysis focuses on two groups of chemicals organophosphates and some carbamates that are commonly used in insecticides. […] Its likely that pesticides are one of many environmental factors that could be contributing to a decline in sperm concentrations.

• #22 Pesticides and Infertility: Why Organic Food Might Be Better for Sperm | TIME

  https://time.com/3763648/pesticides-diet-fertility/

  The troubling link between pesticide exposure and fertility isnt new; scientists have already established that people who work with pesticides tend to have lower fertility than people who dont. […] Men who ate fruits and vegetables with a lot of pesticides had lower sperm counts and more oddly shaped sperm than those who had lower levels of dietary pesticide exposure. […] Men who ate the most high-pesticide fruits and vegetables had a 49% lower total sperm count and 32% fewer sperm that were shaped normally, compared to men who ate the least amount of the high-pesticide produce. […] The strongest variable in their analysis were the proportion of fruits and vegetables consumed that use three or more pesticides.

• #23 Is Your Sperm Count Shrinking? | Northwestern Medicine

  https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/is-your-sperm-count-shrinking

  For decades, scientists have been raising the alarm about a worldwide decline in sperm count, with some studies showing that sperm concentration has dropped more than 50% over a period of 50 years. […] „We think there’s a trend toward a lower sperm count, but it’s not confirmed.” […] Sperm count is considered low if it dips below 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. […] Low sperm count can make it harder to conceive naturally and may be linked to other health issues like hormone imbalances, chromosomal abnormalities or varicoceles. […] Scientists suspect a combination of factors may be contributing to the global decline in sperm count: […] Obesity, poor diet, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, marijuana use, cocaine use, anabolic steroid use and lack of exercise are all linked to lower sperm counts.

• #24 Excess weight may affect sperm production, reduce fertility in men | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

  https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/excess-weight-sperm-fertility/

  A new study co-authored by Jorge Chavarro, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), finds that overweight and obese men are more likely than their normal-weight peers to produce lower numbers of sperm, or even no sperm at all. This could increase the likelihood that they would have difficulty conceiving. […] The researchers combined data from 14 studies comparing sperm count in overweight, obese, and normal-weight men, along with data from an infertility center. They found that overweight men were 11 percent more likely to have a low sperm count and 39 percent more likely to have no sperm in their ejaculate. Obese men were 42 percent more likely to have a low sperm count than their normal-weight peers and 81 percent more likely to produce no sperm. […] More research is needed to determine whether excess weight caused the low sperm count or if other underlying health problems were to blame.

• #25 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-to-Increase-Your-Sperm-Count.aspx

  Research has shown that as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference increased, overall sperm count, sperm concentration, and ejaculate volume decreased. […] Therefore, adopting a Mediterranean diet may be beneficial for those wishing to increase their semen count. […] For optimum sperm production, the testicles should be approximately 34.5C, any hotter than this can lead to scrotal hyperthermia a significant risk factor of poor male fertility.

• #26 Couch potatoes have lower sperm counts › News in Science (ABC Science)

  https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/02/05/3683507.htm

  Men who watched TV for 20 hours or more had a 44-percent lower sperm count than those who watched „none or almost none.” […] Men who watch television for 20 hours per week have almost half the sperm count of those who watch very little television or none at all, a new study has found. […] Men in the top quarter of TV-watchers – those who watched for 20 hours or more – had a 44-percent lower sperm count than those who watched least, meaning they said they watched „none or almost none.” […] Semen quality appears to have declined over several decades, according to studies conducted in several countries. […] It is unclear why this has happened but scientists suspect that sedentary lifestyles may warm the scrotum and affect semen concentrations. […] Physical inactivity has also been linked to increased levels of oxidative stress, in which rogue oxygen compounds degrade cells. […] „We were able to examine a range of physical activity that is more relevant to men in the general population,” says study co-author Jorge Charravo, assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, Massachusetts.

• #27

  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/04/tv-inactivity-sperm-count/1890773/

  The price of sloth may include a lower sperm count. […] Healthy young men who watch a lot of TV and those who skimp on exercise have lower concentrations of sperm in their semen than guys who watch less and move more, a new study finds. […] But it adds to evidence that modern lifestyles may be contributing to possible declines in sperm counts in developed countries. […] Those who watched the most TV, more than 20 hours a week, had sperm counts 44% lower than those who watched none. […] Those who exercised the most, more than 15 hours a week, had sperm counts 73% higher than those who exercised the least, less than five hours a week. […] Obesity and high-fat diets have been linked to lower sperm counts in other studies. […] But in the new study, the links between activity, TV and sperm counts held up even when weight and overall dietary patterns were factored in, Chavarro says.

• #28 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-to-Increase-Your-Sperm-Count.aspx

  It has widely been reported that the sperm count in men is reducing globally. For those wishing to conceive naturally, a low sperm count can be problematic. […] Men with a count lower than this are referred to as having a low sperm count. For those wishing to conceive naturally, having a lower sperm count can be problematic. […] There are several ways to help increase sperm count. […] Analysis of the samples revealed that 12% of men who had never smoked cannabis had clinically low sperm counts, compared to 5% in men who had smoked the substance. […] Research has found that stress can have adverse effects on semen parameters, including sperm count. […] Research investigating the impact of psychological stress on male fertility found that men who were significantly more stressed had lower testosterone levels, sperm count and motility and more atypical morphology.

• #29 Hey, Guys — Here’s Why Your Sperm Count is Plummeting

  https://www.ccrmivf.com/news-events/sperm-count-plummeting/

  A frightening new study has revealed that sperm counts in men in Western countries have dropped by more than 50 percent in less than 40 years. […] Given the importance of sperm counts for male fertility and human health, this study is an urgent wake-up call for researchers and health authorities around the world to investigate the causes of the sharp ongoing drop in sperm count, with the goal of prevention, says Dr. Hagai Levine, the studys lead author. […] According to a March 2012 study, obesity is one of the key culprits of low sperm production. […] Researchers at Ambroise Par University Hospital in Paris found that among obese men, 32.4 percent had a low sperm count and 6.9 percent had no viable sperm. […] Men who feel stressed are more likely to have lower concentrations of sperm in their ejaculate, and the sperm they have are more likely to be misshapen or have impaired motility, writes Pam Factor-Litvak, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, in a 2014 study. These deficits could be associated with fertility problems.

• #30 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-to-Increase-Your-Sperm-Count.aspx

  Research has shown that as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference increased, overall sperm count, sperm concentration, and ejaculate volume decreased. […] Therefore, adopting a Mediterranean diet may be beneficial for those wishing to increase their semen count. […] For optimum sperm production, the testicles should be approximately 34.5C, any hotter than this can lead to scrotal hyperthermia a significant risk factor of poor male fertility.

• #31 SciELO Brazil – Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men

  https://www.scielo.br/j/ibju/a/DZ7qfNnKzYGk6vdMC8HWjRB/?lang=en

  The toxic effect of hyperthermia on semen quality may be reversible in some infertile men. […] We observed that the seminal response to exposure elimination varies biologically among individuals and can be profound in magnitude. […] The only published study to examine the effects of wet heat exposure on human fertility was performed by Rock and Robinson in 1965. […] The data provided by Rock and Robinson, as well as the well-defined association between dry heat exposure and impaired spermatogenesis led us to study the effect of total-body wet heat exposure in human males. […] The removal of wet heat exposure resulted in improvement in semen quality in nearly one-half of subjects studied. […] The improvement was largely the results of increases in sperm motility, and appeared to persist beyond 3 months, although a continuous improvement was not observed in all subjects.

• #32 SciELO Brazil – Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men

  https://www.scielo.br/j/ibju/a/DZ7qfNnKzYGk6vdMC8HWjRB/?lang=en

  Careful analysis of non-responders suggests that chronic tobacco use was more common among non-responders, suggesting that it may complicate the recovery from wet heat exposure. […] This study addressed the relatively unsubstantiated issue of wet heat exposure as a factor in male infertility. […] We demonstrated that infertile men who are frequently exposed to wet heat in the form of hot tubs, Jacuzzis, or hot baths, may realize a marked increase in semen quality following cessation of exposure.

• #33 Is Your Sperm Count Shrinking? | Northwestern Medicine

  https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/is-your-sperm-count-shrinking

  For decades, scientists have been raising the alarm about a worldwide decline in sperm count, with some studies showing that sperm concentration has dropped more than 50% over a period of 50 years. […] „We think there’s a trend toward a lower sperm count, but it’s not confirmed.” […] Sperm count is considered low if it dips below 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. […] Low sperm count can make it harder to conceive naturally and may be linked to other health issues like hormone imbalances, chromosomal abnormalities or varicoceles. […] Scientists suspect a combination of factors may be contributing to the global decline in sperm count: […] Obesity, poor diet, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, marijuana use, cocaine use, anabolic steroid use and lack of exercise are all linked to lower sperm counts.

• #34 SciELO Brazil – Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men Wet heat exposure: a potentially reversible cause of low semen quality in infertile men

  https://www.scielo.br/j/ibju/a/DZ7qfNnKzYGk6vdMC8HWjRB/?lang=en

  Careful analysis of non-responders suggests that chronic tobacco use was more common among non-responders, suggesting that it may complicate the recovery from wet heat exposure. […] This study addressed the relatively unsubstantiated issue of wet heat exposure as a factor in male infertility. […] We demonstrated that infertile men who are frequently exposed to wet heat in the form of hot tubs, Jacuzzis, or hot baths, may realize a marked increase in semen quality following cessation of exposure.

• #35 Male Infertility: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/436829-overview

  The effect of aging on fertility is unclear. As men age, their testosterone levels decrease, while estradiol and estrone levels increase. Studies have shown that, as men age, their sperm density decreases. Young men have spermatids present in 90% of seminiferous tubules, which decreases to 50% by age 50-70 years and to 10% by age 80 years. Additionally, 50% of Sertoli cells are lost by age 50 years, and 50% of Leydig cells are lost by age 60 years. Despite this, aging men may achieve fertility rates similar to those in younger men, although conception often takes longer.

• #36 Male Fertility 101: What You Didn’t Learn in Sex-Ed | Progyny

  https://progyny.com/education/education-male-fertility-101-what-you-didnt-learn-in-sex-ed/

  They found that sperm count had declined, on average, 1.4% per year, with a total decline of 52.4% in just 38 years. […] A semen analysis can alert a person to issues with their sperm production that may affect their ability to conceive, such as low sperm count. […] Research summarized in a Reviews in Urology review from 2011 demonstrates that sperm motility at 55 is less half what it was at 30. […] The genetic health of sperm declines with age, too. […] The prevalence of DNA fragmentation increased about 5% for every 10 years of a mans life. […] Bottom line: Fertility decreases over time, impacting a couples chances of having a healthy baby. […] Sperm freezing preserves the quality of sperm for use later and protects the option to have a genetic family regardless of age or medical history.

• #37 Low sperm count – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sperm-count/symptoms-causes/syc-20374585

  A low sperm count means there is less sperm than is typical in fluid called semen that the penis releases during orgasm. […] Your sperm count is considered lower than typical if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. […] Having a low sperm count makes it less likely that one of your sperm will join with your partner’s egg to start a pregnancy. […] The main symptom of a low sperm count is not being able to start a pregnancy. […] Low sperm count can be caused by health conditions such as: Varicocele. A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. It’s a common cause of male infertility. It can lower sperm count and quality. […] Some infections can impact sperm health or the body’s ability to make sperm. […] Low sperm count can be caused by health conditions such as: Trouble with ejaculation. Ejaculation is the release of semen from the penis.

• #38 Oligospermia (Low Sperm Count): Causes & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22477-oligospermia-low-sperm-count

  Oligospermia (AH-li-go-SPER-me-uh) is the medical term for a low sperm count. A typical sperm count ranges from 15 million to over 200 million sperm per 1 milliliter of semen. If you have oligospermia, you have fewer than 15 million sperm in 1 milliliter of semen. […] A low sperm count can cause male infertility. Having a low sperm count doesn’t mean your partner can’t get pregnant. But it can take longer or be more challenging. […] Varicoceles are one of the most common causes of oligospermia. About 4 out of 10 males with low sperm counts have a swollen vein in their scrotums. […] Each oligospermia cause has a different prognosis. But many causes are treatable. If a healthcare provider diagnoses you with oligospermia, you’ll work together to determine the cause and your treatment options. […] It depends on the cause and whether it’s treatable. Pregnancy may still be possible through unprotected sexual intercourse. You can also explore assisted reproductive techniques, like IVF. A healthcare provider can explain treatment options and family planning with you.

• #39 Low sperm count – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sperm-count/symptoms-causes/syc-20374585

  A low sperm count means there is less sperm than is typical in fluid called semen that the penis releases during orgasm. […] Your sperm count is considered lower than typical if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. […] Having a low sperm count makes it less likely that one of your sperm will join with your partner’s egg to start a pregnancy. […] The main symptom of a low sperm count is not being able to start a pregnancy. […] Low sperm count can be caused by health conditions such as: Varicocele. A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. It’s a common cause of male infertility. It can lower sperm count and quality. […] Some infections can impact sperm health or the body’s ability to make sperm. […] Low sperm count can be caused by health conditions such as: Trouble with ejaculation. Ejaculation is the release of semen from the penis.

• #40 Low sperm count – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sperm-count/symptoms-causes/syc-20374585

  A low sperm count means there is less sperm than is typical in fluid called semen that the penis releases during orgasm. […] Your sperm count is considered lower than typical if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. […] Having a low sperm count makes it less likely that one of your sperm will join with your partner’s egg to start a pregnancy. […] The main symptom of a low sperm count is not being able to start a pregnancy. […] Low sperm count can be caused by health conditions such as: Varicocele. A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. It’s a common cause of male infertility. It can lower sperm count and quality. […] Some infections can impact sperm health or the body’s ability to make sperm. […] Low sperm count can be caused by health conditions such as: Trouble with ejaculation. Ejaculation is the release of semen from the penis.

• #41 Study: Sperm counts decline even after mild COVID infections | CIDRAP

  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-sperm-counts-decline-even-after-mild-covid-infections

  Men recently infected with COVID-19 have decreased sperm counts for more than 3 months following even mild infections, and the sperm they do produce is less able to swim, according to new findings presented today at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Denmark. […] The findings are based on semen analyses taken after 100 days, suggesting COVID does long-term damage to the male reproductive tract. […] Semen volume decreased 20% between pre-and post-COVID samples (from 2.5 to 2 milliliters [mL]), and sperm counts fell 37.5%, from 160 to 100 million per mL of semen. […] The continuing effect of COVID infection on semen quality in this later period may be caused by permanent damage due to the virus, even in mild infection. […] A subset of men who provided samples more than 100 days after infection confirmed that the decreased quality and quantity of sperm persisted.

• #42 Analysis spotlights sperm defects in month after COVID infection, but not at 90 days | CIDRAP

  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/analysis-spotlights-sperm-defects-month-after-covid-infection-not-90-days

  In the 30 days after COVID-19 infection, total sperm count, sperm concentration, total sperm motility (movement), and progressive motility were significantly reduced in a cohort of Chinese men, with the most severe effects in those with moderate to high fever, researchers from Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital report in Scientific Reports. […] The researchers tracked semen quality in 58 men for up to 109 days after COVID-19 diagnosis and used a linear mixed-effects model to analyze semen parameters at different time points before and after infection. […] They noted that previous studies suggest that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into testicular cells, where it leads to testes injury and impairs sperm production. […] While there was no significant difference in semen volume before or after COVID-19 diagnosis, median total sperm count and concentration were lower after infection.

• #43 Analysis spotlights sperm defects in month after COVID infection, but not at 90 days | CIDRAP

  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/analysis-spotlights-sperm-defects-month-after-covid-infection-not-90-days

  Total sperm motility and progressive motility were significantly lower after diagnosis, and the percentage of non-moving sperm was higher. […] Rates of sperm survival and normal sperm form decreased, with greater head defects but similar numbers of sperm with neck, mid-piece, or tail defects. […] Fever severity during SARS-CoV-2 infection may constitute the main influencing factor in reducing semen parameters in patients after recovery, but the effect is reversible. […] The greatest drop in sperm count and concentration occurred within 30 days, followed by a gradual recovery and normalization by 90 days. […] Patients with a moderate or high fever saw a statistically significant decline in semen parameters, while those with a mild fever did not. […] „Fever severity during SARS-CoV-2 infection may constitute the main influencing factor in reducing semen parameters in patients after recovery, but the effect is reversible,” the study authors concluded.

• #44 How pollution is causing a male fertility crisis

  https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230327-how-pollution-is-causing-a-male-fertility-crisis

  Levine argues this acceleration could be down to epigenetic changes, meaning, alterations to the way genes work, caused by environmental or lifestyle factors. […] „This [declining sperm count] is a marker of poor health of men, maybe even of mankind,” says Levine. „We are facing a public health crisis and we don’t know if it’s reversible.” […] Individual lifestyle changes may not be enough to halt the decline in sperm quality. Mounting evidence suggests there is a wider, environmental threat: toxic pollutants. […] Climate change may also negatively impact male fertility, with several animal studies suggesting that sperm are especially vulnerable to the effects of increasing temperatures. […] An advanced paternal age has been associated with lower sperm quality and reduced fertility. […] There is a growing call for greater understanding of male infertility and new approaches for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment as well as an increased awareness of the urgent need to tackle pollution.

• #45 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals

  Additionally, both Swan and Levine said climate change could be a factor, both due to climate-related stress and actual fluctuations in temperature, since heat waves are linked to decreases in sperm quality. […] Chemical exposures during the male programming window, when reproductive traits are formed in utero, have an outsized effect on sperm quality later in life, said Swan. […] To truly tackle the problem, though, much more research is needed, said Swan. […] Levine also said better surveillance tools will be crucial to understanding the problem more deeply.

• #46 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  While the exact causes are not known, contributing factors are thought to be increasing long-term exposure to environmental toxins as well as improved global medical care, which paradoxically allows more men with marginal health to participate in reproductive activities. There is also the possibility that the reported decrease in sperm counts might merely reflect differences in laboratory techniques, inconsistent lab criteria, and varying counting methods. […] Men with infertility issues tend to have more health-related comorbidities than normally fertile males. […] Infertile men with abnormal semen parameters have an increased risk of testicular cancer, with the highest risk in azoospermic individuals. […] Azoospermic men also have a greater overall cancer risk and higher mortality rate compared to males with normal sperm counts.

• #47 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  While the exact causes are not known, contributing factors are thought to be increasing long-term exposure to environmental toxins as well as improved global medical care, which paradoxically allows more men with marginal health to participate in reproductive activities. There is also the possibility that the reported decrease in sperm counts might merely reflect differences in laboratory techniques, inconsistent lab criteria, and varying counting methods. […] Men with infertility issues tend to have more health-related comorbidities than normally fertile males. […] Infertile men with abnormal semen parameters have an increased risk of testicular cancer, with the highest risk in azoospermic individuals. […] Azoospermic men also have a greater overall cancer risk and higher mortality rate compared to males with normal sperm counts.

• #48 American men have half the sperm they used to

  https://journalistsresource.org/environment/sperm-count-falling-developed-world/

  American men have half the sperm they used to. A review of 185 papers finds male fertility in developed countries has fallen over 50 percent in less than 40 years, with significant public health implications. For several decades, researchers have warned that modern lifestyles may be killing off sperm. Specifically, researchers have noted concern about the endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many products — pesticides, sunblock, plastic water bottles, non-stick pans — that mimic sex hormones and confuse our bodies. A new paper aims to move the debate forward: It analyzes almost four decades of research and concludes that sperm counts are indeed falling precipitously, show no sign of slowing, and require urgent attention. Western men unselected for fertility saw SC decline 52.4 percent between 1973 and 2011 (1.4 percent per year). Over the same years, the same men saw TSC decline 59.3 percent (1.6 percent per year). For all men included in the data, SC and TSC fell 0.75 percent per year, or 28.5 percent between 1973 and 2011. The researchers found no significant trends for non-Western men, though they believe this may be due to a paucity of data. When the authors performed sensitivity tests, they found little change in the rate that sperm counts are falling. Looking only at recent years, in other words, there is no sign the decline is slowing or leveling off. A lower sperm count than average is associated with testicular cancer, according to this 2016 paper, and early death according to this 2009 paper. A 2017 paper in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that men with lower sperm counts were more likely to be hospitalized and to develop cardiovascular disease. The family members of men with poor semen quality have higher risks of testicular and thyroid cancer, according to this 2016 paper. A 2017 paper in Human Reproduction found first-degree relatives of men with low sperm counts face higher risks of childhood mortality. A 2017 study of men in the Baltic states found lower sperm counts among smokers; many other papers found similar results.

• #49 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  There may also be an increased cancer risk in first and second-degree relatives of infertile men. […] Conversely, it has been reported that 5% to 8% of patients with testicular cancer have azoospermia. […] COVID-19 appears to cause somewhat reduced fertility and even infertility in some recovered males, especially if the infection is severe. The virus appears to affect the testis by direct cellular infection via a cytokine storm and through the side effects of the various antiviral and immunological therapies used in its treatment. Further investigations are needed to better elucidate both the mechanisms of damage and possible remedies specific to COVID-19 infection-related infertility.

• #50 Men with low or no sperm count at higher risk of some cancers | PET

  https://www.progress.org.uk/men-with-low-or-no-sperm-count-at-higher-risk-of-some-cancers/

  Men with infertility, and their relatives, have been found to be at an increased risk of some cancers, though the specific cancer risk varies greatly. […] A study of men in Utah, published in Human Reproduction, has identified a connection between an increased risk of some cancers, and extremely low (less than 1.5 million per millilitre of semen) sperm counts, or having no sperm at all. Increased cancer risk was observed not only for the men studied, but also their relatives and offspring, compared to fertile men and their relatives. […] The analysis grouped families into clusters based on the types of cancer diagnosed. For families of men with no or low sperm, 12 familial clusters were identified that had increased risk of developing at least one type of cancer. […] 'This builds on a growing body of evidence which suggests that a diagnosis of male infertility is associated with other medical conditions, both in the men themselves and also in their wider family.’ […] Specific genetic or environmental causes for the variation in cancer risk were not investigated. […] Families of men with fertility problems show distinct patterns of increased risk for several types of cancer.

• #51 American men have half the sperm they used to

  https://journalistsresource.org/environment/sperm-count-falling-developed-world/

  American men have half the sperm they used to. A review of 185 papers finds male fertility in developed countries has fallen over 50 percent in less than 40 years, with significant public health implications. For several decades, researchers have warned that modern lifestyles may be killing off sperm. Specifically, researchers have noted concern about the endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many products — pesticides, sunblock, plastic water bottles, non-stick pans — that mimic sex hormones and confuse our bodies. A new paper aims to move the debate forward: It analyzes almost four decades of research and concludes that sperm counts are indeed falling precipitously, show no sign of slowing, and require urgent attention. Western men unselected for fertility saw SC decline 52.4 percent between 1973 and 2011 (1.4 percent per year). Over the same years, the same men saw TSC decline 59.3 percent (1.6 percent per year). For all men included in the data, SC and TSC fell 0.75 percent per year, or 28.5 percent between 1973 and 2011. The researchers found no significant trends for non-Western men, though they believe this may be due to a paucity of data. When the authors performed sensitivity tests, they found little change in the rate that sperm counts are falling. Looking only at recent years, in other words, there is no sign the decline is slowing or leveling off. A lower sperm count than average is associated with testicular cancer, according to this 2016 paper, and early death according to this 2009 paper. A 2017 paper in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that men with lower sperm counts were more likely to be hospitalized and to develop cardiovascular disease. The family members of men with poor semen quality have higher risks of testicular and thyroid cancer, according to this 2016 paper. A 2017 paper in Human Reproduction found first-degree relatives of men with low sperm counts face higher risks of childhood mortality. A 2017 study of men in the Baltic states found lower sperm counts among smokers; many other papers found similar results.

• #52 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals

  Levine said it was surprising that the rate of decline was accelerating, rather than slowing down. […] Sperm count is not only a reproductive concern, but an indicator for other health problems in men, and is used as a predictor for male longevity. […] This decline in sperm count could also suggest other health concerns, he said. […] Though the reasons for the drop were not discussed in the paper, scientists have known for decades that certain environmental factors, like exposures to pesticides (such as atrazine, alachlor, and diazinon) and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), can have impacts on reproductive health. […] Swan and Levine said exposures to chemicals in the environment and other factors likely all play a substantial role in the sperm count trend.

• #53 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals

  We have clear evidence that there is a crisis in male reproduction, Hagai Levine, lead author on the study and an epidemiologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told EHN. […] The study builds on the teams previous research, which showed a decline in sperm count in North America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia of 28.5% between 1973 and 2011. […] Its really alarming, said Swan, who is also an adjunct scientist with Environmental Health Sciences, which publishes EHN.org. […] The research found that the average global sperm count in 2018 was 49 million per milliliter of semen. […] She said the results could mean that in the coming decades, large swaths of the global population of men could be subfertile or infertile, or could require assisted reproduction techniques, like in vitro fertilization (IVF), hormone treatment, or a technique called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which sperm are directly injected into an egg.

• #54 Why Sperm Counts Are Dropping For Men Today | GQ

  https://www.gq.com/story/sperm-count-zero

  The problem is that these chemicals are everywhere. BPA can be found in water bottles and food containers and sales receipts. Phthalates are even more common: They are in the coatings of pills and nutritional supplements; they’re used in gelling agents, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents. […] The epigenetics are the scary bit, he told me, because what we’re doing now affects the future of the human race. […] The chairs of the symposium called on the world to acknowledge that male reproductive health was essential for the survival of the species, that its decline was alarming and should be studied, and that at present it was being neglected in funding and attention. […] A fertility-treatment-dependent future is also unlikely to produce a birth rate anywhere near current levels. […] So perhaps that’s the solution: As long as we hover somewhere above Sperm Count Zero, and with an assist from modern medicine, we have a shot.

• #55 Why Sperm Counts Are Dropping For Men Today | GQ

  https://www.gq.com/story/sperm-count-zero

  The problem is that these chemicals are everywhere. BPA can be found in water bottles and food containers and sales receipts. Phthalates are even more common: They are in the coatings of pills and nutritional supplements; they’re used in gelling agents, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents. […] The epigenetics are the scary bit, he told me, because what we’re doing now affects the future of the human race. […] The chairs of the symposium called on the world to acknowledge that male reproductive health was essential for the survival of the species, that its decline was alarming and should be studied, and that at present it was being neglected in funding and attention. […] A fertility-treatment-dependent future is also unlikely to produce a birth rate anywhere near current levels. […] So perhaps that’s the solution: As long as we hover somewhere above Sperm Count Zero, and with an assist from modern medicine, we have a shot.

• #56 Male infertility – The other side of the equation

  https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/september/male-infertility

  Male infertility can result from anatomical or genetic abnormalities, systemic or neurological diseases, infections, trauma, iatrogenic injury, gonadotoxins and development of sperm antibodies. […] A male factor contributes to infertility in approximately 50% of couples who fail to conceive, causing significant psychosocial and marital stress. […] Male infertility is associated with significant psychosocial and marital stress. […] In 30-40% of male infertility cases, no cause is identified (idiopathic male infertility). […] Evaluation of the male partner is indicated if pregnancy is not achieved after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. […] The minimal assessment includes measurement of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and morning testosterone levels. […] While semen analysis is the most important test in the evaluation of a male patient, it is not definitive in determining a man’s fertility.

• #57 Low sperm count – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sperm-count/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374591

  You may learn that you have a low sperm count if you get a healthcare checkup because you’re having trouble getting your partner pregnant. […] If you have a low sperm count, your semen contains fewer than 15 million sperm in each milliliter or less than 39 million sperm total for the entire sample. […] Your chance of getting your partner pregnant drops with lower sperm counts. […] Many factors are involved in pregnancy. The number of sperm in the semen is only one. […] Depending on your semen analysis results, your healthcare professional might recommend more tests. […] Treatments for low sperm count include: […] If no sperm are present in the semen, sperm often can be collected directly from the testicles or epididymis. […] Rarely, male fertility problems can’t be treated, and the affected person’s sperm can’t be used to start a pregnancy. […] For low sperm count, you can start by seeing your family healthcare professional. Then you might be referred to an infertility specialist.

• #58 Low Sperm Count | Reproductive Science Center

  https://rscbayarea.com/learn/male-infertility/sperm/low-sperm-count.html

  A mans normal range of sperm production is 40 million to 300 million sperm per milliliter of ejaculate. Sperm counts below 10 million per milliliter of ejaculate are considered poor; counts of 20 million or more may be acceptable, if motility and morphology are normal. […] Because the normal male reproductive system is continually producing new sperm cells, the causes of low sperm count are sometimes temporary for example, in cases of illness (especially with fever), unusually high stress levels, and poor nutrition. […] While sperm count is not the only important factor in male fertility, it is a measurement that could greatly affect whether more advanced fertility treatment is necessary for conception. […] Oligospermia refers to very low sperm count. […] Azoospermia refers to a sperm count of zero in the ejaculate a result of either obstructive or non-obstructive causes.

• #59 Low Sperm Count | Reproductive Science Center

  https://rscbayarea.com/learn/male-infertility/sperm/low-sperm-count.html

  A very low ejaculate volume indicates that the seminal vesicles may not be making enough fluid or that these ducts may be blocked. […] Total motile sperm count (TMC) is calculated by multiplying three factors of a semen analysis; ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and motility. Average TMC is 20-40 million sperm. Men with a TMC of 20 million sperm or less are likely to have significant male factor infertility and if the TMC is 5 million or less, the patient is classified as having severe male factor infertility.

• #60 Male infertility – The other side of the equation

  https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/september/male-infertility

  Male infertility can result from anatomical or genetic abnormalities, systemic or neurological diseases, infections, trauma, iatrogenic injury, gonadotoxins and development of sperm antibodies. […] A male factor contributes to infertility in approximately 50% of couples who fail to conceive, causing significant psychosocial and marital stress. […] Male infertility is associated with significant psychosocial and marital stress. […] In 30-40% of male infertility cases, no cause is identified (idiopathic male infertility). […] Evaluation of the male partner is indicated if pregnancy is not achieved after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. […] The minimal assessment includes measurement of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and morning testosterone levels. […] While semen analysis is the most important test in the evaluation of a male patient, it is not definitive in determining a man’s fertility.

• #61 Male infertility – The other side of the equation

  https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/september/male-infertility

  Patients with a leukocyte count of 1 x 10^6/mL in the ejaculate need further investigation with urine culture, urine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and semen culture. […] Genetic testing is indicated for patients with severe oligospermia (5 million/mL). […] A specific region, named AZF (azoospermia factor), in the long arm of the Y chromosome is critical to normal spermatogenesis. […] Karyotype testing is indicated in patients with severe oligospermia (5 million/mL), because the prevalence of karyotype abnormalities is inversely proportional to sperm count: 1% with normal sperm count, 5% with severe oligospermia (5 million/mL) and 10-15% with azoospermia. […] The most common abnormality is Klinefelter syndrome (47, XXY), which accounts for approximately two-thirds of abnormalities in men who are infertile.

• #62 Male Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/

  With regard to male infertility, the exact prevalence is still uncertain, as male infertility is not a reportable disease. Furthermore, payment for male infertility treatment is usually private, and hence, treatments are not reflected in medical insurance statistics. […] Agarwal et al estimated the overall pure male factor infertility could range between 2.5% and 12%. In North America, the estimated male infertility rate is between 4.5% to 6%, while it’s 9% in Australia and could be as high as 8% to 12% in Eastern Europe. […] A study by Bayasgalan et al estimated the cause of infertility due exclusively to a male factor at 25.6%. A similar study conducted by Thonneau et al found that among the French population, a prevalence of 20% of all infertility was due exclusively to a male factor.

• #63 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Male-Infertility-Epidemiology.aspx

  Infertility issues plague nearly 15% of couples in the world. […] Of these cases nearly 30% are due to male infertility issues. […] There is no way to accurately pinpoint cases of male infertility across the globe, but recent studies conducted on a region and country basis by different organizations have made it possible to gain a better understanding of the disorder. […] The estimated number of infertile men in the world ranges between 30,625,864 and 30,641,262. […] The highest concentration of male infertility was found in Europe. […] The study concluded that nearly 50% of infertility cases rest with women while 30% are caused due to male infertility issues. […] A low sperm count can make it difficult for a couple to conceive. A count of less than 20 million/mL is considered low and the condition is referred to as Oligospermia.

• #64 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals

  Additionally, both Swan and Levine said climate change could be a factor, both due to climate-related stress and actual fluctuations in temperature, since heat waves are linked to decreases in sperm quality. […] Chemical exposures during the male programming window, when reproductive traits are formed in utero, have an outsized effect on sperm quality later in life, said Swan. […] To truly tackle the problem, though, much more research is needed, said Swan. […] Levine also said better surveillance tools will be crucial to understanding the problem more deeply.

• #65 Decreasing sperm quality: a global problem? | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-10-24

  Analyses of sperm count data suggest a global downward trend but the results are inconclusive. An increase in male reproductive disorders like cryptorchidism and testicular cancer raise the question of common risk factors. […] The sperm count issue has been extensively investigated since 1992 and the decrease is supported by additional studies. […] Looking at sperm count studies which have been published since 1992, it becomes evident that over the past 20 years, sperm quality has decreased in some but not all locations. The results also show that sperm counts can vary widely between and within countries. These major geographical differences suggest that the results of the former meta-analyses of sperm count may be biased by geographical confounding. […] The debate on declining semen quality is still ongoing. The many studies which examined possible changes in semen quality have produced conflicting conclusions mainly due to the heterogeneity between studies and differences in quality standards. Furthermore, the results of studies are frequently biased e.g. by selection criteria of volunteers or other confounding factors. The observed time trend in semen quality might be an artefact, since the methodological differences between studies might be time dependent as well. Intensive research will be necessary in both clinical and epidemiological domains. More studies are needed with strict methodological standards that investigate semen quality obtained from large samples of healthy men representative for the normal male population.

• #66 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals-2658635273.html

  Sperm count is not only a reproductive concern, but an indicator for other health problems in men, and is used as a predictor for male longevity. […] This decline in sperm count could also suggest other health concerns, he said. […] Though the reasons for the drop were not discussed in the paper, scientists have known for decades that certain environmental factors, like exposures to pesticides (such as atrazine, alachlor, and diazinon) and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), can have impacts on reproductive health. […] Swan and Levine said exposures to chemicals in the environment and other factors likely all play a substantial role in the sperm count trend. […] Additionally, both Swan and Levine said climate change could be a factor, both due to climate-related stress and actual fluctuations in temperature, since heat waves are linked to decreases in sperm quality. […] To truly tackle the problem, though, much more research is needed, said Swan. […] Levine also said better surveillance tools will be crucial to understanding the problem more deeply.

• #67 A new analysis shows a “crisis” of male reproductive health – EHN

  https://www.ehn.org/sperm-count-decline-chemicals

  Additionally, both Swan and Levine said climate change could be a factor, both due to climate-related stress and actual fluctuations in temperature, since heat waves are linked to decreases in sperm quality. […] Chemical exposures during the male programming window, when reproductive traits are formed in utero, have an outsized effect on sperm quality later in life, said Swan. […] To truly tackle the problem, though, much more research is needed, said Swan. […] Levine also said better surveillance tools will be crucial to understanding the problem more deeply.

• #68 Hey, Guys — Here’s Why Your Sperm Count is Plummeting

  https://www.ccrmivf.com/news-events/sperm-count-plummeting/

  A frightening new study has revealed that sperm counts in men in Western countries have dropped by more than 50 percent in less than 40 years. […] Given the importance of sperm counts for male fertility and human health, this study is an urgent wake-up call for researchers and health authorities around the world to investigate the causes of the sharp ongoing drop in sperm count, with the goal of prevention, says Dr. Hagai Levine, the studys lead author. […] According to a March 2012 study, obesity is one of the key culprits of low sperm production. […] Researchers at Ambroise Par University Hospital in Paris found that among obese men, 32.4 percent had a low sperm count and 6.9 percent had no viable sperm. […] Men who feel stressed are more likely to have lower concentrations of sperm in their ejaculate, and the sperm they have are more likely to be misshapen or have impaired motility, writes Pam Factor-Litvak, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, in a 2014 study. These deficits could be associated with fertility problems.

• #69 Global, regional and national burden of male infertility in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019: an analysis of global burden of disease study | BMC Public Health | Full Text

  https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16793-3

  Recent research has indicated a global decline in semen quality and an acceleration in sperm count reduction among males. […] The observed abnormal semen parameters include reduced semen count, decreased sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, decreased ejaculate volume, and prolonged sperm liquefaction time, with many studies demonstrating multiple abnormal semen parameters. […] The phenomenon of decreased semen quality in men worldwide explained the general trend of increasing prevalence of male infertility year by year. […] The global prevalence of male infertility is increasing, with an increasing number of affected populations and a significant threat to male reproductive health worldwide. […] The burden of male infertility coexists with high fertility needs. […] Our findings indicate a substantial increase in the prevalence of male infertility since 1990.

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