A man’s fertility is often taken for granted.
True, the oldest recorded father was 92 years old. Men may assume that they don’t have to do much to maintain fertility over their lifetime. But what if our expectations about male fertility are wrong?
What causes low sperm count and unhealthy sperm? Is male infertility a common problem?
Deterioration of Male Fertility
It sounds like a science fiction plotline, but male sperm counts are decreasing, and quickly.
Over the last four decades, sperm counts have dropped by over 50 percent. In the 1970s, studies reported sperm counts to be at 338 million, but by 2010, males were averaging 138 million sperm per ejaculation. This is happening all over the world. Lower sperm count means lower fertility because fewer sperm are likely to reach the egg.
So, low sperm count in men is common. What does this mean?
It’s Harder to Reproduce
According to a recent study, 20-30% of young men currently have low sperm counts. Half of these young men have sperm counts that are so low that they might require fertility treatments. The same study predicts that many countries will experience a population drop due to this decline in fertility.
Other Health Problems are Increasing in Men
Apart from fertility, problems in sperm can be a signal for many other health issues in men that have been on the rise, including:
One Culprit: Toxic Chemicals
Trak® Fertility has committed to the study of male fertility and the factors that help improve it. Their booklet offers a number of tried and true ways to help men who want to become fathers. Main methods include:
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Healthy eating
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Exercise
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Reducing stress
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Sleeping well
Hormones are significant when it comes to a man’s health.
However, studies show that there is another major factor that is causing decreased sperm counts all over the world: toxic chemicals. These chemicals affect men’s hormones. The use of these chemicals has been increasing for over the past few decades.
Phthalates and bisphenols (such as BPA) are just a few of the chemicals that are known to block testosterone and mimic estrogen in the body and lead to fewer sperm and lower quality of sperm in men. They also contribute to the health problems listed above. Toxic chemicals are found in everyday items, including plastics, food packaging, and personal care products.
Everyone is Exposed
The CDC found that phthalate and BPA exposure is widespread in the United States.
Toxic chemicals are entering our bodies, and their by-products are detectable in most people’s urine.
The good news...
By decreasing exposures to these chemicals, you can rid them from your body.
How can you protect yourself and decrease exposures?
What You Can Do
Test your exposure! By testing your exposure to toxic chemicals, you can:
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Identify your chemical exposures
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Find the sources of exposures
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Eliminate toxic chemical exposures
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Ensure exposures remain minimal with follow-up testing
Prevention is the first step when it comes to toxic chemicals. Million Marker is here to help you optimize your fertility and protect your health. With our tests, you will be able to focus on properly preparing for your growing family.
For a Fact Sheet on this topic, click here.