Originally published July 7 2005
Statistics suggest more men are infertile than women
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Data from the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) show that more men seem to be infertile than women, and declining sperm counts, obesity and smoking were found to be major contributing factors.
Infertility may be affecting more men than women according to new figures released at the 21st annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
Factors such as declining sperm counts, obesity and smoking were largely to blame for the rise, which saw male causes creep from 50 to 51 per cent.
Data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) shows that in 81 per cent of couples fertility problems can be narrowed down to whether the cause lies with the man or the woman, although a definite diagnosis may still not be made.
The findings were presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Copenhagen yesterday.
Clare Brown, the chief executive of the Infertility Network, said: "When I talk to people about infertility, they tend to automatically assume that it is a woman's problem and are genuinely surprised to find out that it's pretty much 50-50.
I think it is down to the fact that men still don't like to talk about the fact that they may have a problem - they see it as an attack on their virility.
Other studies presented at the conference this week have shown how the sperm of older men is at increased risk of DNA damage, making it less likely that fertilisation will occur.
Another explanation for the drop in male fertility could be chemicals found in everyday products and food, one expert suggested.
Research at King's College London presented to the conference found that male sperm is harmed by genistein, a chemical found in soya.
Professor Lynn Fraser said that even tiny doses could cause sperm to "burn out" and lose fertility.
Dr Anders Nyboe Andersen, head of the Copenhagen University Hospital fertility clinic which carried out the research, said: "Male infertility seems to be increasing.
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