A new expert study shows that the earth might be on its way to extinction as fertility tests for men show a further decline in sperm count. A single ejaculation of sperm plummeted by more than 50 percent among men in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand between 1973 and 2011, according to a study carried out in 2017.
New research by scientists shows that it has even gone further, with the drop increasing to 62 percent from the previous 50 percent. The study was carried out when semen samples from more than 14,233 men, including some from South and Central America, Africa, and Asia, showed a steady decline.
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From the data collected from the 2017 research, the number of sperm per milliliter of semen (semen concentration) has dropped by an average of 1.6 percent yearly. The data came consistently from different continents, including Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America.
The study co-author Shanna Swan, a reproductive and environmental epidemiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City, said that the effects that will come from this steady decline in sperm count normal range could be very disastrous for the human race. "Overall, the drop is similar in magnitude, but when we look at recent years, we see that it’s speeding up," he said.
The lead author of the study Hagai Levine, a medical epidemiologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Braun School of Public Health, mentioned that the result should be treated with immediate attention. According to him, the result was "problematic as we were hoping that at some point the decline would be leveling off. The opposite may be true, and we may cross a tipping point when most men will be sub-fertile or when the causes of this decline will also manifest by other adverse health trends."
If it should continue this way, humanity might have issues with how humans reproduce. However, with recommendations from professionals, there's still a chance that the issue can be corrected quickly.
The Truth About the Rising Infertility
Fertility tests on men show that many are experiencing a decline in the sperm count's normal range.
However, this has been different from how the issue of fertility has been treated in the past. Most of the time, fertility-related problems are seen as women's problems. The blame is mostly placed on the female side.
But scientists have declared that both males and females are very much involved in the issue of infertility. It even comes more from the side of the male.
Amy E.T. Sparks, a reproductive physiologist and director of the IVF and Andrology Laboratories, said that an infertility challenge is not meant to be blamed on one person. Rather, each party involved should take a test and see how they can resolve the problem. "I think the perception that infertility is primarily a woman’s problem may be due to the tendency for women to initially seek medical care for infertility rather than men," Sparks said.
The result of the new study by trusted scientists supports Amy E. T. Sparks' claim." substantial increase in the proportion of men with low sperm counts which leads to a reduced capability for fertilizing their partners," David M. Kristensen, a molecular toxicologist, said.
"This is of concern for not only the families that are affected but also for societies in general, as many countries such as Italy and Japan are already suffering from shrinking populations," he added.
Abnormalities in Sperm Count Normal Range Can Cause Health Issues in Men
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Aside from the topic of reproductive health, the decline in the sperm count of males can also cause different health problems. Michael Eisenberg, a director of male reproductive medicine and surgery, suggested this.
According to his claims, when a man begins to have issues with a low sperm count, there is a higher tendency for him to contract another health disease. These diseases can seriously affect the heart, kidney, liver, and other vital parts of the man's body.
"There is an association between semen quality and overall health—studies suggest that impaired semen quality is associated with a higher risk of testicular cancer, cardiovascular disease, and [premature] mortality," Michael Eisenberg said.
Another study that was conducted in 2018 confirmed Michael Eisenberg's claims. It claimed that men who had low sperm counts had a higher chance of being hospitalized than those who didn't.
From the study, those with sperm concentrations below 15 million/mL had low sperm concentrations. Those in this category have more chances of landing in a hospital than those who have a concentration above that. There is also a recommendation for taking a fertility test for men to detect these issues early.
Factors That Decrease Sperm Count Normal Range
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Certain factors contribute to men having low sperm count, and you must be aware before learning how to treat yourself. Low testosterone levels and changes in male genital development while in the womb are some factors that contribute to low sperm count in men.
According to the author of the book Countdown: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race, the two factors mentioned above have to be examined critically.
For men, the production of sperm within the male reproductive system requires some testes and testosterone. When this level is not reached within the man's body, it leads to low sperm count in men.
"Levels of testosterone have been reported to be declining during the same period that the sperm production rates were measured in this meta-analysis," the scientist explained.
Mothers are also involved in the issue of low sperm count among males. According to experts, what a pregnant mother is exposed to can seriously contribute to infertility. The environment a pregnant woman stays in matters a lot. The same thing also applies to the food they eat and what they drink. Pregnant women who eat harmful substances and abuse drugs during pregnancy can contribute to their male offspring having a low sperm count.
Men who abuse drugs such as smoking and have a large intake of alcohol also have a higher tendency to have a low sperm count. Reducing the abuse of hard drugs and harmful substances can help men with low sperm count.
In addition, men and women experiencing reproductive issues can take certain measures to reduce its effects. Having a good diet which one must follow, drinking healthy substances, exercising regularly, and keeping a healthy body weight might be of help.
