Sperm count: An international team of researchers has found that there is a significant decline in sperm counts over the years in many countries globally, including India. Sperm count is an indicator of human fertility as well as that of men’s health. Low levels of sperm count is being associated with increased risk of chronic disease, testicular cancer and a decreased lifespan, the researchers said.
The decline in sperm counts indicates a global crisis related to modern environment and lifestyle, with broad implications for the survival of the human species, they said.
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53 countries
The study, published on Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction Update, used data from 53 countries. It includes an additional seven years of data collection (2011-2018) and focuses on sperm count trends among men in regions not reviewed previously, specifically South America, Asia and Africa.
The data shows, for the first time, that men in those regions share the significant decline in total sperm counts (TSC) and sperm concentration (SC) seen previously in North America, Europe and Australia.
India trend
“India is part of this larger trend. In India, due to availability of good data (including 23 estimates in our study, one of the countries with the richest data), we have more certainty that there is a strong and sustainable decline, but it’s similar globally,” Professor Hagai Levine of Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, told PTI.
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“Overall, we’re seeing a significant worldwide decline in sperm counts of over 50% in the past 46 years, a decline that has accelerated in recent years,” Levine said.
“Additionally, lifestyle choices and chemicals in the environment are adversely affecting this foetal development,” Levine explained. “Our findings serve as a canary in a coal mine. We have a serious problem on our hands that, if not mitigated, could threaten mankind’s survival.
“We urgently call for global action to promote healthier environments for all species and reduce exposures and behaviours that threaten our reproductive health,” Levine said.
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