Men's Sperm Counts Are Down Worldwide

The sperm counts among men in Western countries, including North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, have dropped dramatically over the past 40 years.  Sperm counts have dropped 52% in this period, and the continued decline does not appear to be leveling off.

The researchers screened 7,500 men, excluding men who were thought to be infertile, and found the steep decline was in both sperm concentration and total sperm count.  This confirms what researchers have suspected for some time.  The study did not explain why sperm counts might be down, but there are several theories.  Researchers feel that the drop in sperm count is associated with environment and lifestyle factors, including prenatal chemical exposures, adult pesticide exposures, smoking, stress and obesity.

Men living in Western countries for the last four decades have been exposed to new man made chemicals during the course of their lives, and there is more and more evidence that chemicals hurt their reproductive function. Until further research gives us definite answers, men can live a healthier life by reducing stress, not smoking, staying physically active, and eating a diet free from chemicals and additives.  For now, the reduction in sperm count in men in the Western world has not affected conception.  However, scientists will have to figure out why Western men have lower sperm counts, or birth rates may suffer in the future.  For now, there's plenty of sperm to get the job done.