Researcher: Lowered Sperm Counts In Western Men Could Lead To ‘Human Extinction’

Is it the decline of Western Civilization? It may sound alarming, but one author of a recent study says that if the “shocking” drop in sperm counts continues, it could lead to human extinction.    

The study, published Human Reproduction Update, used data from 185 separate studies and found that sperm counts for men in North America, Europe and Australia dropped in half between 1973 and 2011. All told, the studies included data from 43,000 men.

The report did not address the cause of the decline, but the researchers speculated about possible explanations. In addition to obesity and smoking, they said exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the womb could also be to blame.

“If we will not change the ways that we are living and the environment and the chemicals that we are exposed to, I am very worried about what will happen in the future,” Dr. Hagai Levine, one of the lead researchers of the study, said.

Why were the results only from Western countries? Because there are fewer studies from other parts of the world, the researchers said the issue couldn’t be properly examined across the globe.

Some scientists are skeptical that the problem is as bad as it sounds. Past studies showing drops in sperm counts have often been flawed. For example, early research methods may have overestimated sperm counts. It’s also possible that studies that didn’t show drops in sperm counts may not have been factored in because they weren’t published in scientific journals.

There is general consensus, however, that more research into the issue is needed.

“This is a classic under-the-radar, huge public health problem that is really neglected,” Levine said.