Researchers reached this conclusion after analyzing data on sperm samples of more than 26,600 healthy men, and it may have implications for sperm counts in men around the world.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 5, 2012 —Human Reproduction
In one of the largest studies ever to find a decline in sperm quality, French researchers looked at data on sperm samples of more than 26,600 healthy men who visited fertility clinics because of their female partners' fertility problems. The data showed a decline in average sperm count from 73.6m to 49.9m per milliliter during the study period.
The number of healthy, properly shaped sperm also declined, by 33.4 percent, in the same time period, the study found.
The results are consistent with a 20-year-old British Medical Journal
The researchers said the results were “a serious public health warning” and called for international monitoring of sperm counts, according to the Guardian
Epidemiologist and study researcher Joëlle Le Moal, PhD, told Agence France-Presse (AFP), "This is the most important study carried out in France and probably in the world considering that you have a sample that's close to the general population."
While the French results may not hold true for other nations, they are cause for alarm, according to the researchers. When a man has a sperm count below 55 sperm cells per millilIter, it can take longer for a couple to conceive, according to Le Moal.
Some factors that could influence sperm count include endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment that influence the body's hormones, and men being overweight.
The sperm study was published in the journal Human Reproduction
Factors that Hurt Sperm Count
A number of factors can influence sperm count and sperm quality, including these:
- A recent study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility
- Nutrition may also affect sperm count and quality. A study presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Oct. 2011 showed that diets rich in red meat and processed grains seemed to impair the ability of sperm to move about, while diets high in trans fats appear to lower the amount of sperm found in semen. However, a healthier diet composed of a higher intake of fish, fresh fruits, while grains, legumes, and vegetables seemed to improve sperm motility in study participants.
- And good news for men who exercise: A study by researchers at Yamaguchi University in Japan found men who get moderate amounts of exercise have better sperm motility than men who are less or more physically active.
TELL US: Men: Do you worry about your sperm count? (Note: Mobile users may not be able to comment.)