[STUDY] Sperm Concentration Affected by Insecticides, Claim Experts—What Can Men Do to Protect Their Fertility?

Sperm concentration has been decreasing for the past few decades. Numerous experts are trying to find the main causes of the worsening sperm count and quality declines.

Now, researchers from George Mason University revealed that being exposed to insecticides/pesticides could be one of the main reasons for sperm concentration decline.

[STUDY] Sperm Concentration Affected by Insecticides, Claim Experts—What Can Men Do to Protect Their Fertility?

(Photo : JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
A laboratory staff members selects spermatozoa to process for a medically-assisted procreation (MAP) procedure at the Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon fertility center, in Paris, on October 25, 2022.

Involved experts analyzed five decades of peer-reviewed studies focusing correlation between carbamate-based and organophosphate insecticides and the decreasing sperm concentrations.

[STUDY] Sperm Concentration Affected by Insecticides, Claim Experts

George Mason University researchers checked studies involving around 1,800 men to see if insecticides really affect sperm concentration.

"Based on this meta-analysis, we believe insecticide exposure ... is impacting overall sperm concentration," said GMU's College of Public Health Dean Melissa Perry, who also co-authored the analysis.

"The message is we need to reduce insecticide exposure in order to ensure men who are planning a family or want to conceive children are able to do that without interference," she added.

Their findings are critical these days since The Guardian reported that recent statistics showed that sperm concentration declined by more than 50% over the past 50 years.

Melissa explained that these chemicals, which are created to kill pests, appear to interfere with the human endocrine system's hormone production. Because of these, insecticides/pesticides can also directly impact how much and how normally men produce sperm.

Other negative effects of pesticides on males are that these chemicals can damage testes cells and alter neurotransmission in the brain linked to reproductive activities.

What Men Can Do to Protect Fertility

(Photo : Abid Katib/Getty Images)
Palestinian farmers spray insecticide as they work in a greenhouse located in the former Jewish settlement of Netsarem November 23, 2005 south of Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Foreign donors bought the greenhouses from the Israeli settlers and the farms were quickly replanted.

Experts said that insecticides are usually used in lawns and indoors. Avoiding using these chemicals is a piece of cake. However, pesticides are also used by farmers to protect their vegetables and other food products.

What men can do is to ensure that they are eating fruits, vegetables, and other foods that don't have pesticides. First, they must identify the food with the highest levels of pesticide residues, which HealthLine listed:

Peaches (99%)
Grapes (96%)
Nectarines (94%)
Apples (90%)
Blueberries (90%)
Collard Greens, Mustard, and Kale (86%)
Spinach (76%)
Pears (63%)
Strawberries (30%)

If ever you can't avoid eating some of these fruits and vegetables, the best thing you can do is wash them thoroughly. To do this, here are the steps you need to follow: