‘Something is very wrong’: Fertility rates among men plummet

Speculation about the cause has spread widely online, with some health influencers pointing to factors such as carrying cell phones in front pockets, while one Instagram “biohacker” suggested electric vehicles could be responsible. Despite the range of theories being raised, scientists generally agree that a decline in fertility is occurring

A report by National Geographic highlighted the drop in the overall fertility rate, a term defined by calculating the number of babies born compared to women of childbearing age. Allan Pacey, deputy dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester, pointed to more routine explanations such as increased contraceptive use, men waiting longer to have children, or some men choosing not to become fathers entirely.

But when it comes to male fertility specifically, meaning the ability of an individual man to conceive with a partner, some are torn about to what extent that is an ongoing issue. Studies examining sperm count and sperm quality have produced conflicting results.

Pacey said the field has struggled to “convince people that this is an important question,” leaving scientists unsure “what is right and what is wrong.” He has also suggested that perceived declines may partly reflect improved testing methods rather than an actual biological decrease.

“As you improve counting methods, you get lower values, because bad techniques always overestimate the number,” he said.

But well-respected data has raised significant concerns. A widely cited 2017 study published in the journal Human Reproduction Update found that sperm counts in Western countries had declined by nearly 60 percent since 1973. A 2023 update reiterated these findings, further noting a decline in South and Central America, Africa, and Asia.

“This is the canary in the coal mine,” said the study’s lead author, Epidemiologist Hagai Levine. “It signifies that something is very wrong with our current environment, as lower sperm counts predict morbidity and mortality.”

Others have tried to downplay these concerns, such as the Cleveland Clinic, which in 2025 said it found sperm counts to be steady after a systematic review.

“There is no evidence to suggest that this decline is the cause of a precipitous decline in the ability to cause pregnancies,” the lead author of that study, Scott Lundy, argued. “Most men, even with a modest decline in sperm counts, will still have no issues conceiving.”

Even so, many doctors say male infertility remains a growing factor in conception. Dr. Alex Robles of the Columbia University Fertility Center in New York told Fox News that clinicians are “seeing more couples where the male factor contributes to infertility." He noted that “At least one-third of couples we evaluate have some male component.”

Robles pointed to several potential contributing factors, including obesity, smoking, environmental exposures, and delayed parenthood. National Geographic also reported that heavy drinking and marijuana use may contribute to declining fertility, while lifestyle changes such as losing weight, exercising, and reducing use of these substances could improve overall reproductive health.

The role of microplastics, which many online influencers have speculated could contribute to falling fertility rates, remains unclear. Lundy said that there is stronger evidence linking male fertility issues to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These chemicals are found in various products such as reusable plastics and disposable consumer goods, and their potential effects on reproductive health are still being studied.