(29-07-10) Widespread male infertility sweeping the globe

by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

Nearly 20 years ago, Danish scientists first broke the news to the world that
men from Western countries seem to be slowly becoming infertile. Recent
research seems to back this up as well, with average sperm counts having
dropped to half of what they were 50 years ago.

According to reports, nearly 20 percent of men between the ages of 18 and 25
have sperm counts that are abnormally low. To put this in perspective, consider
the fact that in the 1940s, men had an average of about 100 million sperm cells
per millimeter of semen (m/ml). Today, the average is around 60m/ml. Those
among the 20 percent with abnormal levels have less than 20m/ml.

So what is the cause behind decreasing sperm counts? Realistically, there is
probably more than just one cause. Environmental toxins, synthetic food and
water additives, and estrogenic substances in food are all likely culprits.

"It's most likely a reflection of the fact that many environmental and
lifestyle changes over the past 50 years are inherently detrimental to sperm
production," explained Professor Richard Sharpe, a fertility research expert at
the Medical Research Council, in a U.K. report.

But what scientists believe may be the biggest cause of poor semen quality in
men has more to do with what their mothers were exposed to during pregnancy,
than what the men themselves are exposed to throughout their lifetimes.

A case in point is the disastrous chemical accident that occurred in 1976 in
Seveso, Italy. The incident caused the highest known human exposure to toxic
chemical dioxins. It was later revealed that pregnant women who were exposed to
the chemical during that time bore male children who ended up having poor sperm
counts.

Other studies also seem to lend credence to the idea that lifelong sperm
counts are determined during the early stages of male fetal development.
Interference with the Sertoli cells, which are responsible for proper sperm
development during fetal development, can lead to lifelong sperm production
problems in males.

"Maternal-lifestyle factors in pregnancy can have quite substantial effects on
sperm counts in sons in adulthood, and the most logical mechanism by which this
could occur is via reducing the number of Sertoli cells," explained Professor
Sharpe.

In other words, prenatal exposure to toxic chemicals is a serious threat to
male health, which ultimately threatens the existence of mankind.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/s...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seveso...

Source: NaturalNews

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In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.