--- title: "Why male fertility rate decreased in recent years?" description: "Why male fertility rate decreased in recent years?" author: "Vijay Yadav" published: 2021-08-05 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/93883/why-male-fertility-rate-decreased-in-recent-years category: "sexual health" tags: ["sexual health and education", "science", "health"] reading_time: 4 minutes --- # Why male fertility rate decreased in recent years? And what will be its [effect](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1501/name-some-of-the-methods-of-jquery-used-to-provide-effects) in upcomming year ? ## Answers ### Answer by Shriyam Srivastava According to recent surveys, around 1 out of 8 couples in the US suffer from infertility. It is the concept of the inability to impregnate or get pregnant despite regular intercourse. When such a situation arises, both the male and the female partners are examined and when the analysis shows the male fertility is declined or negligible, then researchers try to find the cause behind it. The reproductive doctors are unable to find the cause behind this infertility through medicines. But the researchers have led the path by figuring out that **environmental toxicity may be a cause of male infertility.** For determining fertility in men, the most basic thing is **semen analysis** and for that, sperm is assessed. \ ![Why male fertility rate decreased in recent years?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/7552d894-e286-437e-b8b7-ca5eae79444c/images/ab840498-64fc-4c76-9ca8-ef1daa1a33d3.png) \ **Sperm count:** it is the total number of sperms a man produces **Sperm concentration:** the number of sperms presents per millimeter of the semen **Motile sperm count:** the number of sperms that are able to swim and move (the most effective method) \ In the starting decade of the 1990s, the researchers noticed something that was of grave importance. Even after controlling a wide range of factors that are responsible for infertility in males, the rate was still declining. The factors that were traditionally analyzed are hormonal imbalance or genetic diseases in males. \ ![Why male fertility rate decreased in recent years?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/7552d894-e286-437e-b8b7-ca5eae79444c/images/fa307b98-b6a9-49c4-a13a-cbd7aa633129.png) ***The above figure shows what the studies have analyzed about declining male fertility from time to time.*** ***\*** ## The causes behind unhealthy and less motile sperm: - **Environmental toxicity affecting reproduction** It has been known for decades that any toxicity or pollution in the environment can cause a **hormonal imbalance.** Essentially, the **use of excessive chemicals** is the leading cause behind declining fertility. Some chemicals responsible for this imbalance are known by the name of **endocrine disrupters.** Their work is to imitate the original hormones of the body and cause disruption in the fragile hormonal balance. The problems caused by these endocrine disrupters are dangerous to the physical and emotional health of humans (the leading being, male infertility). They adversely affect **testosterone and semen health**. If the scientists try to treat the harmful effects caused by them, it is not very feasible for the common man. \ ![Why male fertility rate decreased in recent years?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/7552d894-e286-437e-b8b7-ca5eae79444c/images/acfb3464-3ad5-4a9b-9b15-6bd4febfdf8b.png) \ \ **Air pollution** is another leading cause behind declining reproductive health. There are various gases that are released when the air is polluted in cities. They contribute to **abnormal sperm quality.** Some of these gases are particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. The **radiation** from screens (laptops, mobile screens) contributes to **declining sperm counts, impaired sperm motility, and abnormal sperm shape.** Other than this, **heavy metals** like cadmium, lead and arsenic also harm sperm health. They are used regularly in water, food, and cosmetics. \ - **Effect of unregulated chemicals in male infertility** The testing of chemicals for human health and the environment is not as strong as the development, thus, it bears hazards to health. According to the WHO, **around 800 harmful compounds** are found to be capable of disrupting the hormonal balance. But unfortunately, only a few of them have been tested. These chemicals are launched in the market for rapid growth and development, with minimal testing. They are only taken down from the market, as and when some harmful effect is analyzed. This process takes decades and in the meantime, they cause the harm which they are capable of, steadily. \ ## The future ahead: The alarming rate of increase in male infertility is a cause of alertness for everyone. They need to come in minimal contact with the problems mentioned above, to curtail the infertility rate. Also, public awareness, advocacy of reproductive health from time to time, and open discussions regarding it are important for the future. \ --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/93883/why-male-fertility-rate-decreased-in-recent-years Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.