Most Men Know Surprisingly Little About Their Own Fertility

Male fertility rates have been steadily declining, and a new study suggests that men’s ignorance of infertility risk factors may be a major reason.  While up to half of infertility in couples is due to male infertility, most men have a limited awareness of risk factors that contribute to the inability to conceive naturally, the study found.  The findings, published in the November issue of the journal Human Reproduction, showed that men could identify only about half of the potential risks and health conditions that could significantly affect their sperm count and fertility.  The researchers surveyed more than 700 Canadian men aged 18 to 50 (with an average age of 34), who represented a range of ethnic backgrounds, income and education, and asked them to identify factors associated with male infertility.  Most men were able to identify well-known risk factors such as cancer, smoking, and steroid use, the study found. However, significantly fewer were aware that things like obesity, frequent bicycling, and using portable computers on their lap also were risk factors. “Childbearing, and problems related to it, are often seen as ‘women’s issues,’ even though most men want to have children some day,” study co-author Dr. Phyllis Zelkowitz, a professor and researcher of psychiatry at McGill University and the Jewish General Hospital, told The Huffington Post. “Also, men tend to ask fewer questions about their health...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news