Environment, Temperature and Air Quality Have Varying Impacts on Sperm Health Across US States [Data]

Fertility is a significant foundation when it comes to the continuation of a lineage of a specie and life itself. In humans, male and female fertility pertain to the ability of the sexes to conceive a child naturally. However, previous research has found that there are certain factors that affect a person's fertility, including unhealthy lifestyle, genetic conditions, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol.

Over the past decades, there has been growing evidence which suggests that our environment is also playing an important role when it comes to fertility. One of the most recent indications of this correlation is according to a sperm testing and freezing company. It suggests many factors, including temperature and air quality, have varying impacts on sperm health across the United States.

In contrast to one's ability to have an offspring, infertility, on the other hand, is the failure of men and women to achieve pregnancy. Whether it was caused by a male's absent or low sperm count or on the part of the female, infertility can occur. According to experts, human fertility is at risk in modern times due to artificial chemicals, which are contributing to the current fertility crisis.

Human Fertility

The global average human fertility rate, as current scientific literature shows, has declined from around 5 during the 1960s to around 2.4 in 2021, according to the scientific online publication Our World in Data. The occurrence of the plummeting fertility rate is in spite the accelerated population growth worldwide, with the latter caused by improved healthcare and decline of mortality rate.

Currently, the total human population is approximately 8 billion, with 336.3 million people in the United States, according to census provided by the US Government. China has the highest population of 1.4 billion, followed by India with almost the same figure. The current figure is due to significant population growth in previous decades. Yet, experts warn that the fertility rate has declined.

Also Read: Male Infertility is Linked to Greater Risk of Developing Breast Cancer: UK Study

Sperm Health in the US

The US ranks as the third country with the highest population. However, a recent report shows that the quality of sperm health varies for each state across the country due to multiple factors like the environment, chemical pesticide exposure, diet, temperature, and air quality. This is according to a company mentioned earlier, called Legacy, which investigated variations in sperm count nationwide.

According to data analysis conducted by the company from all 48 contiguous states across the US, the following states with the lowest average sperm counts are as follows (with the first state being the lowest and the last being the highest)

•  Mississippi
•  South Carolina
•  Oklahoma
•  North Dakota
•  Delaware

Based on estimates, US male infertility has increased across the nation in recent decades, where sperm counts have decreased by 50% in the past 50 years. The data shows that chemicals and pollution also impact the reproductive system of a person, including males.

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