As men age, their sperm count drops leading to fertility issues not dissimilar to ageing women. But age isn't the only factor leading to a drop in sperm count. Disruptions in the endocrine system cause sperm quality to plummet to the extent that action must urgently be taken, according to Groen chairperson Jeremie Vaneeckhout.
"Sperm quality is dropping dangerously quickly due to hormone disruptors, among other things. By 2050, the end of natural fertilization is imminent. Urgent action needed!" warned Vaneeckhout on Twitter.
Vaneeckhout's tweet came after he had asked Flemish Welfare Minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V) about sperm and endocrine disruptions in the Welfare Committee, reported De Standaard.
Generational decline
The move comes after an Israeli study which showed that men's sperm count dropped 62% between 1973 and 2018 stoking fears of severe fertility issues in the coming decades.
Yet male fertility specialists and professors of endocrinology Guy T'Sjoen (University of Gent) and Leen Antonio (University of Leuven) aren't willing to put a date on the end of natural male fertility by 2050. Yet they told De Standaard that "the majority of the studies point in the same direction: the male sperm is doing worse than before."
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But the scientific journal Nature last year highlighted the role that that geographic location plays in sperm quality, even within a country, and questions the usefulness of collecting sperm samples from vastly different regions.
In addition, lifestyle issues linked to obesity, an increasing development globally, also have an impact on male fertility. A study from Harvard School of Public Health found that "overweight men were 11% more likely to have a low sperm count and 39% more likely to have no sperm in their ejaculate. Obese men were 42% more likely to have a low sperm count than their normal-weight peers and 81% more likely to produce no sperm."
Prevalence of plastic
Though there are numerous factors that can influence sperm count and quality, the impact of plastic on the endocrine system is difficult to overstate. In particular, elements frequently contained in plastic such as bisphenols and phthalates act as hormone disrupters and are known to decrease sperm mobility and their concentration in semen.
"But we have no idea how great the influence of endocrine disruptors is compared to factors such as smoking and obesity, which can also reduce male fertility," Antonio stressed in De Standaard.
T'Sjoen recommended avoiding endocrine disrupters as much as possible by for instance not heating food in plastic containers in the microwave.
"The endocrine disrupters could then be released from the plastic. Many air fresheners also contain endocrine disruptors, just like pesticides. So wash fruit and vegetables and ventilate the house often."
