Men may face fertility crisis as sperm count declines

Sperm counts are dropping among men across the world, according to research published in the academic journal Human Reproduction Update.

Researchers expressed concerned that the world could be facing a reproductive crisis, with an ageing society posing significant future problems.

They said their findings a “significant public health concern.”

They note that sperm count is not only an indicator of human fertility, according to ABC News.

“It also is an indicator of men’s health, with low levels being associated with increased risk of chronic disease, testicular cancer and a decreased lifespan,” the researchers said in a press release.

Professor Hagai Levine of Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Braun School of Public Health led the study.

He believes he knows what is causing the lower sperm counts. He said it has to do with “lifestyle choices and chemicals in the environment.”