# Male Fertility

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [July 29, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463 "2025-07-29T12:40:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sedna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Sedna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sedna)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463/1 "2025-07-29T12:40:48Z")

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re: [Are male fertility rates shrinking? - The Straight Dope](https://www.straightdope.com/21343703/are-male-fertility-rates-shrinking)

It’s been over 20 years since this column was written.  
Have there been any updates?  
Are male fertility rates continuing to decline?  
Does anyone have any idea of the cause?  
Just curious! Thanks!!

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463/2 "2025-07-29T14:31:42Z")

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Welcome to Straight Dope!

While this only doesn’t include the last few years, this meta-analysis says the decline is continuing:

> Importantly, this analysis also demonstrates an accelerated decline in SC [sperm concentration] and TSC [total sperm count] post-2000.

**Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of samples collected globally in the 20th and 21st centuries**

[https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/29/2/157/6824414?login=false](https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/29/2/157/6824414?login=false)

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**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463/3 "2025-07-29T14:40:21Z")

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Well, at least for those who want children, the good news is that it only takes one to get the job done. LOL

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**Author:** ![Sedna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Sedna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sedna)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463/4 "2025-07-29T14:52:43Z")

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Thank you!

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463/5 "2025-07-29T15:01:56Z")

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> [@Sedna](#):
>
> Does anyone have any idea of the cause?

This 2020 analysis indicates several possible factors, but I don’t think that researchers have a firm idea of exactly what’s causing it.

> [@](#):
>
> Although causative factors have yet to be fully elucidated, potential causes include, increased rates of obesity, poor diet, and exposure to environmental toxins.

> **[Reasons for worldwide decline in male fertility - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32168194/)**
>
> There exist substantial data to suggest a decline in sperm counts over time. Although causative factors have yet to be fully elucidated, potential causes include, increased rates of obesity, poor diet, and exposure to environmental toxins. How this...