29% fall in men's sperm count worries researchers

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1116183,00.html

 

29% fall in men's sperm count worries researchers

 

James Meikle, health correspondent

Monday January 5, 2004

The Guardian

 

Researchers are about to deliver another blow to men's self-image by suggesting

that there has been a big fall in their sperm count.

They will report today a 29% drop in the average sperm concentration in more

than 7,500 men attending the Aberdeen Fertility Centre between 1989 and 2002.

Tests on nearly 16,000 samples taken in this period indicate that concentrations

fell from nearly 87m sperm in a millilitre to just over 62m in the 14 years.

The figures may not be typical of the whole male population, since the men or

their partners were seeking fertility treatment. But the preliminary results,

reported at a joint meeting in Liverpool today of the Association of Clinical

Embryologists and the British Fertility Society, will reinforce concern that

either the environment or genetic changes are having a drastic effect on men's

potency.

Many causes have been suggested in recent years: the toxic effects of pesticides

and other chemicals, drink, smoking, obesity and tight underpants and trousers.

But there is little irrefutable evidence to indicate how seriously the research

should be taken.

Twenty million sperm a millilitre is regarded as the lower parameter for a

" normal " sperm count. And other factors, including sperm mobility and quality,

are as important in fertility. A recent Brazilian study suggested that regular

coffee intake might perk up male fertility by making sperm swim faster.

Dr Siladitya Bhattacharya, who led the Aberdeen study, said: " We cannot say

there has been a fall in male fertility on the basis of these preliminary

results. Much conflicting evidence exists in this field.

" There has been an increase in men seeking treatment for male infertility, but

whether this is due to a significant increase in this condition or because men

are more aware of new techniques which have been developed to help them, we

cannot say.

" Nonetheless, the drop in sperm counts must cause some concern and needs to be

explained. We look forward to collecting data on other aspects of sperm quality

to see if there is a similar decline. "

Advisers to the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency have urged a

review of how chemicals, work and lifestyles might affect the sexual development

of boys and their future fertility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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