Sperm Count (Biomarker Of Male Health) In The West Has Declined By 60% Since The 1970s

haidut

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This topic has been discussed on the forum a few times before but the humbers quotes by recent studies usually hovered around 20% - 30%, which did not cause much alarm among endocrinologists. Now, this larger study shows that the decline in male fertility is much worse than previously thought. Sperm counts of Western male have declined by as much as 60% since the early 1970s when the data gathering first began. Given that thyroid function and testosterone levels are two primary factors influencing sperm count, this finding is not surprising at all in light of the confirmed epidemics of hypothyroidism and hypogonadism. Add to this the ocean of endocrine disruptors in which we are all bathing and the only surprise is that the sperm count has not declined even further. I saw a video of a recent proceedings of the endocrinologist society in which one presenter opined that hormonally and fertility-wise a modern 30 year old male is equivalent to a 65 - 70 year old make in the 1970s. This estimate matches well the recent study on hand grip strength I posted about showing that males in their 20s and 30s have the grip strength of 60 year old males from around the turn of the century.
Recently, I noticed that fertility clinic ads have flooded local radio stations (DC area). I thought that this was an isolated, local peculiarity but after seeing this study now it all makes sense.

Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis | Human Reproduction Update | Oxford Academic
Sperm counts in the Western world have declined nearly 60 percent since the 1970s

"...In a comprehensive study published in Human Reproduction Update, researchers analyzed data from studies spanning 1973 to 2011. Over this time period, they found a drastic drop in both sperm concentration and sperm count among men in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. No decline this significant was documented in other parts of the world, where less data is available. The study also shows that the rate of decline in the West has not slowed in recent years. The authors say their findings should spur “massive” efforts to identify and address the cause of this decline, which is still unknown. We spoke with lead researcher Hagai Levine, an epidemiologist and public health physician at the Hebrew University-Hadassah, about these findings."

"...Levine: First, these data demonstrate that the proportion of men with sperm counts below the threshold for subfertility or infertility is increasing. Clear effects on population growth will only be seen when a significant proportion of the population has very low fertility. Moreover, given the findings from recent studies that reduced sperm count is related to increased morbidity and mortality, the ongoing decline points to serious risks to male fertility and health."
 

NathanK

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They've been hyping T replacement for a few years now on sports radio stations here in Texas. It's become a big business. The irony is exogenous testosterone shuts down HPTA axis, which includes FSH and LH critical for forming sperm.

The strongest correlation that I can tell is with the rise in plastics
 

Tarmander

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You'd think grip strength and the rise of pornography would be positively correlated? Are they only testing the left hand?
 

bdawg

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They've been hyping T replacement for a few years now on sports radio stations here in Texas. It's become a big business. The irony is exogenous testosterone shuts down HPTA axis, which includes FSH and LH critical for forming sperm.

The strongest correlation that I can tell is with the rise in plastics

+ SSRI usage

"11% of Americans over the age of 12 take an antidepressant." and this is dated
 

schultz

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Aromatase inhibitors seem to raise sperm count quite a bit. I wonder if something like androsterone would have the same affect?

Outcomes of anastrozole in oligozoospermic hypoandrogenic subfertile men. - PubMed - NCBI
"Sperm concentration significantly increased from 4.7 1.2 106 /mL to 13.1 2.9 106 /mL (P¼.001), and total motile count increased from 4.6 1.3 106 to 8.0 3.4 106 (P¼.008)"

Aromatase inhibitors for male infertility. - PubMed - NCBI
A total of 25 oligospermic men with semen analysis before and during anastrozole treatment had an increase in semen volume (2.9 versus 3.5 ml., p <0.05), sperm concentration (5.5 versus 15.6 million sperm per ml., p <0.001) and motility index (832.8 versus 2930.8 million motile sperm per ejaculate, respectively, p <0.005).


There are lots of studies and I don't feel like listing them all as I am sure everybody gets the idea... lol
 

Wagner83

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You'd think grip strength and the rise of pornography would be positively correlated? Are they only testing the left hand?
Hahaha :thumbup: . If penis size was reduced along with drops in thyroid horomones and androgens it could explain it.
 
OP
haidut

haidut

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I
Aromatase inhibitors seem to raise sperm count quite a bit. I wonder if something like androsterone would have the same affect?

Outcomes of anastrozole in oligozoospermic hypoandrogenic subfertile men. - PubMed - NCBI
"Sperm concentration significantly increased from 4.7 1.2 106 /mL to 13.1 2.9 106 /mL (P¼.001), and total motile count increased from 4.6 1.3 106 to 8.0 3.4 106 (P¼.008)"

Aromatase inhibitors for male infertility. - PubMed - NCBI
A total of 25 oligospermic men with semen analysis before and during anastrozole treatment had an increase in semen volume (2.9 versus 3.5 ml., p <0.05), sperm concentration (5.5 versus 15.6 million sperm per ml., p <0.001) and motility index (832.8 versus 2930.8 million motile sperm per ejaculate, respectively, p <0.005).


There are lots of studies and I don't feel like listing them all as I am sure everybody gets the idea... lol

It does. There are older studies on Pubmed showing that androsterone, pregnenolone, and of course T maintain spermatogenesis and normal fertility in rats whose pituitary has been taken out. The doses used for androsterone and pregnenolone were in the HED range of 20mg - 30mg daily.
 

fradon

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with 8 billion people on the planet that is a good thing. sperm counts are low everywhere not just the west. i suspect horoshima...fallout.
 

BibleBeliever

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with 8 billion people on the planet that is a good thing. sperm counts are low everywhere not just the west. i suspect horoshima...fallout.
How is it a good thing? This is for the West, low birthrate. Elsewhere in the world many breed like rabbits and we import them in, instead of having enough children.
 

rei

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I don't think any other explanation is needed for this than modern medicine giving the ability to infertile people to reproduce, and society is not smart enough to ban it. The result is infertile genes spreading into the population.
 

InChristAlone

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I have a cousin who couldn't get pregnant, turns out it was him, he isn't fertile. Meanwhile my family is too fertile! I have loads and loads of cousins and 2nd cousins.
 

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