A new study conducted by the world’s largest sperm bank, Cryos International in Aarhus, challenges the widespread belief that men’s sperm quality is generally declining. The research team behind the study analyzed sperm samples from 6758 men aged 18 to 45 from four Danish cities in the period from 2017 to 2022, and the results show no general change in sperm quality. Allan Pacey, professor of andrology at the University of Manchester, states that while there is a broad belief that men’s sperm concentration is declining, the study has not been able to document such a trend. He hopes that the results will be able to reassure many. The study, published in the scientific journal Human Reproduction from Oxford University, does highlight a decrease in “swimming” sperm cells after 2020. According to the researchers, this decline is due to changes in eating habits and decreased physical activity as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
However, overall, the results do not show a general deterioration in sperm quality. Pacey refers to a previous study from last year that showed an annual decline in sperm count of 2.64 percent since 2000 as a possible source of misunderstanding about sperm quality. He points out that this method of assessing trends is problematic, as it relies on pre-existing data rather than data specifically collected for the purpose. The new study thus contributes to nuanced the debate about men’s sperm quality and addresses some of the concerns that have characterized public perception in recent years.