CHILDREN OF MEN
Global sperm counts have been falling for decades, but experts are divided on the causes – and short of solutions. Now a new wave of tech start-ups is seeking to help men take charge of their reproductive health and ‘self-optimise’ their sperm. Is this the future of fertility?
but they knew, given Jenn’s history of polycystic ovary syndrome, that they might need some help.
Ciaran and Jenn had never questioned the fact that they wanted a family
They had been trying to conceive for nearly a year and were well along the road to IVF when, at the end of an appointment – almost as an afterthought – a doctor suggested that they check Ciaran’s sperm.
A few weeks later, the couple returned to meet with a consultant. As usual, the focus was on Jenn. The consultant went over her latest test results, then turned to her husband. ‘There’s not much we can do for you, Ciaran,’ he said.
His tone suggested this would come as no surprise – but, seeing Ciaran’s confusion, his expression changed. ‘He realised that I had no idea about my infertility,’ Ciaran says.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to contract; Ciaran felt himself having ‘a weird, out-of-body experience’, like he’d learned of the death of a loved one.
His analysis had returned, showing a sperm count of 1,500, with less than 1% deemed viable. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the range for a ‘normal’ sperm count begins at 15m and reaches up to 250m.
Since the first IVF baby was born in 1978, infertility has been a growing concern. Last year, a report by the WHO found that it now affects roughly one in six of the adult population.
Like all other issues of family planning and reproductive health, infertility has largely been treated as a women’s problem. But mounting evidence is highlighting what should have always been obvious: we’ve been neglecting half of the issue.
A 2017 meta-analysis by Shanna Swan, professor of public health at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, found that sperm counts in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand have plummeted by nearly 60% since 1973, prompting ‘Spermageddon’ headlines that warn of the end of the human race.
While other researchers have questioned Professor Swan’s findings, seven years later, the science continues to point to a troubling trend of falling sperm counts. Even more concerningly: the reasons for this aren’t clear.
A study* last year linked lower concentration of sperm with exposure to insecticides; another* pointed to mobile phones.
Pollution, stress, plastics, steroids and even skinny jeans have also been implicated alongside the usual fa
