Counting your sperm before they fertilize： are sperm counts really declining

Apurported global decline in sperm counts has been a source of controversy since the early 1990s. Numerous studies performed since then, as well as reanalysis of the original data, show either no changes, or even increases, in sperm concentrations over time. In this review, we discuss the 1992 meta-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAsian journal of andrology Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 179 - 183
Main Authors Pastuszak, Alexander W, Lamb, Dolores J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published China Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd 01.03.2013
Nature Publishing Group
Subjects
Environmental Pollution - adverse effects
Female
Global Health
Humans
Male
Mass Media
Oligospermia - epidemiology
Oligospermia - etiology
Opinion
Risk Factors
Sperm Count
原始数据
施肥
浓度
精子
计数
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Summary:Apurported global decline in sperm counts has been a source of controversy since the early 1990s. Numerous studies performed since then, as well as reanalysis of the original data, show either no changes, or even increases, in sperm concentrations over time. In this review, we discuss the 1992 meta-analysis that initiated the continuing debate on whether sperm concentrations are declining, and the com- munity discussion surrounding it over the past two decades. We also highlight studies evaluating sperm concentrations performed since the initial study that produced different results, and conclude that no definitive cause for a decrease in sperm counts has been established, and the effects of geography and environment on sperm counts are unclear.
Bibliography:Apurported global decline in sperm counts has been a source of controversy since the early 1990s. Numerous studies performed since then, as well as reanalysis of the original data, show either no changes, or even increases, in sperm concentrations over time. In this review, we discuss the 1992 meta-analysis that initiated the continuing debate on whether sperm concentrations are declining, and the com- munity discussion surrounding it over the past two decades. We also highlight studies evaluating sperm concentrations performed since the initial study that produced different results, and conclude that no definitive cause for a decrease in sperm counts has been established, and the effects of geography and environment on sperm counts are unclear.
31-1795/R
ISSN:1008-682X
1745-7262
DOI:10.1038/aja.2012.105