Shocking steep decline in sperm counts of Western men

Shocking steep decline in sperm counts of Western men

Men living in Western countries who presume their sperm counts are strong and plentiful for male reproduction, may need to think twice on that assumption.  A concerning new meta-analysis of 185 studies published between 1971 and 2011 involving almost 43,000 men has found a disturbing 52.4 percent decline in sperm concentration and a 59.3 percent decline in total sperm count among men from North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.  This averages to a 1.4 percent reduction each year of the concentration of sperm in the ejaculate of men from these countries. This points to a possible threat to male infertility in the years ahead. 

This has taken the scientific community by surprise with many calling it a huge public health crisis that has been neglected far too long.  This is not the first time researchers have had concerns about declining men’s sperm counts as previous studies have shown the same thing.  For example, in Canada, 40 to 45 percent of the time, it is a male issue contributing to problems of conception – sometimes it might be a low sperm count, or a blockage when they ejaculate, or a history of injuries or surgical procedures affecting their testicles.  There are also concerns surrounding male reproductive function as rates of testicular cancer are on the rise.  

Men with low sperm counts is only part of the troubling concern of this phenomena as men with low sperm counts also go on to have a higher all-cause mortality.  These men have been shown to have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer thus dying at a younger age.  

There is much less data on men from non-Western countries so it is difficult to compare any similarities or trends in those areas of the world.  

At this time, there is no clear explanation for why men living in Western countries are experiencing a reduction in male fertility.  Some researchers are speculating that the real damage is happening during exposures to the male fetus occurring in the womb.  Research has found that expectant mothers, who smoked while pregnant with a boy, have sons with lower sperm counts, regardless if the son ever smoked or not. 

Other possibilities being considered are men’s exposure to new, man-made chemicals such as pesticides, also smoking, obesity, and stress.  Even though these all could play a significant role in harming a man’s reproductive capability, what is known is that male reproductive function is very sensitive to environmental impact throughout a man’s lifespan. 

Until there is a better idea pinpointing what is causing this alarming reduction in male sperm counts, here a few suggestions for men on ways to possibly protect and preserve the number of sperm they have:

·      Reduce stress – have hobbies that are relaxing

·      Do not smoke or use other tobacco products

·      Avoid excessive drinking

·      Limit exposure to chemicals

·      Avoid direct heat to the testicles

·      Have a regular fitness routine

·      Eat a healthy diet

·      Maintain a healthy body weight

Priapism – when an erection won’t go away

Some men may read the title and think, “Wouldn’t a long-lasting erection be a good thing?” Be careful what you wish for.  Men who have an erection that won’t give up most likely have a condition called priapism.

Priapism is probably not a commonly known male condition but any man who has ever experienced it will tell you he never wants to have it again.  Excruciatingly painful, priapism is when a man has an abnormal erection in which blood that engorges the penis fails to drain out. Every year emergency rooms see thousands of men with this distressing condition that if an erection lasts too long – more than 4 hours - can do permanent damage to the penis.  In fact, priapism is considered a medical emergency as it could result in a man’s ability to ever have an erection again. 

Two types of priapism                

There are two types of priapism – ischemic priapism and nonischemic priapism. 

1.     Ischemic priapism is the most common form and occurs when blood is not able to flow back out of the penis.  The symptoms of this type include:

·      An erection lasting more than four hours that is not due to sexual stimulation

·      The penile shaft is very rigid but the glans or tip of the penis is soft.

·      The pain becomes progressively worse with time

One main cause of this type of priapism is sickle cell anemia.  This is an inherited disorder known for its abnormally shaped red blood cells or sickle cells.  These cells block the blood vessels in the penis refraining blood to flow back out of an erect penis.  Another possible cause is due to taking medication for achieving an erection such as Viagra but this is considered rare. Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have also been known to cause this type of priaspism.

Prescription medications are also associated with ischemic priapism which include:

·      Antidepressants

·      Medication injected directly into the penis to treat erectile dysfunction

·      Blood thinners such as warfarin

·      Hormones such as testosterone

·      Medications to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADHD)

2.     Nonischemic priapism is when penile blood flow isn’t regulated normally.  This type is usually painless with symptoms that include:

·      Erection lasting more than 4 hours that is not due to sexual stimulation

·      The penis is erect but not as rigid as in ischemic priapism.

Harmful effects of priapism

Ischemic priapism can lead to possible complications.  An erection lasting more than 4 hours means blood trapped in the penis will be deprived of oxygen.  When blood can’t circulate and carry oxygen to the cells that make up the structures of a man’s penis, those cells start to die which can result in tissue damage, scar tissue and in extreme cases if not treated, can lead to permanent erectile dysfunction.

When to see a doctor

Anytime an erection has lasted more than 4 hours and or a man is in excruciating pain, it is time to seek emergency care. At the ER, a doctor will determine if the prolonged erection is due to ischemic or nonischemic priapism.  The reason for this is each type has a different treatment - ischemic priapism needs to be treated right away.

Treatment for priapism

If priapism is considered ischemic, there are several ways it can be treated:

·      The excess blood can be drained from the penis using a small needle and syringe helping relive pain removing oxygen-poor blood. 

·      A sympathomimetic drug may be injected into the penis constricting blood vessels carrying blood into the penis. 

·      Surgery may be performed if other treatments do not help.  This would involve rerouting blood flow so the blood flows into the penis normally.

Nonischemic priapism usually goes away on its own without treatment.  This type of priapism does not cause any risk to the penis as ischemic priapism can.  One treatment possibly used could be putting ice packs and pressure on the perineum which is found between the base of the penis and the anus to stop the erection.