Sperm crisis: falling fertility threatens the male future!

Sperm crisis: falling fertility threatens the male future!

Seedam, Österreich - The discussion about male fertility and the so -called “sperm crisis” has become increasingly important in recent years. Numerous international studies show an alarming reduction in sperm cells in the ejaculate of men over the past few decades. This development raises questions about the future reproductive ability of the male population and is classified by experts as a potential threat to continue humanity. This decline is not only observed in western industrialized nations, but also affects global men of different origins.

With a steady decline in sperm numbers, it has been faced since the beginning of the 20th century. An important study by the Danish epidemiologist Niels Erik Skakkebæk in 1992 documented a decline in the average sperm concentration from 113 to 66 million sperm per milliliter. Recent analyzes from 2017 and 2021 expand this picture by determining a decline of more than 50 % within the past 40 years. The number of sperm fell from over 100 million per milliliter to less than 50 million, which, in addition to health, could also result in social consequences.

causes of the "sperm crisis"

The causes of the decline in the number of sperm are diverse. Living conditions such as obesity, alcohol and tobacco consumption play a central role and sustainably affect the quality of the male sperm cells. An unhealthy nutrition and lack of exercise are also considered to be significant factors. Environmental chemicals, especially endocrine disruptors (EDCS), also have a negative impact on sperm production. Scientists like Timo Strünker report on far -reaching negative effects of these substances on the mobility of the sperm.

Some current studies, including the Earth study, have found out that physically exhausting work correlated with higher sperm concentrations. Men who regularly raise heavy objects show a 46 % higher sperm concentration compared to their less active colleagues. An increased course of the male sex hormones and a possible conversion of excess testicular hormone into estrogen could play a role, which illustrates the complexity of the topic.

opinions and perspectives

The scientific community disagrees with the final interpretation of data and trends. Critics of the study results indicate the heterogeneity of the data, which makes clear conclusions difficult. It is argued that the quality of the data of older studies that show a decline in the number of sperm is not always reliable. However, many leading epidemiologists, including Shanna Swan and Hagai Levine, say serious concerns that the falling sperm number could endanger the continued existence of the species.

At the same time, it is pointed out that not all studies show a constant decline in the number of sperm. Some examinations even report climbs in certain populations. The WHO regularly publishes guidelines on sperm quality to promote a uniform diagnosis of male infertility, which indicates the urgent need for further research.

Ultimately, the topic of male fertility is a complex interplay of biological, social and ecological factors, which must be researched even more intensely in order to find effective solutions against the "sperm crisis". With growing awareness of the topic, new perspectives for male health and reproductive society could also result in

For further information and details on the studies and research results see the articles by OE24 , Spectrum and Medizindoc .