Sperm and infertility. Sperm counts have roughly halved over the last 50 years, but some states see lower average sperm counts than others.
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Which states have the highest sperm counts in the U.S.?
Male infertility has become an increasing concern in the U.S. in recent decades, with sperm counts decreasing by over 50 percent in the past 50 years.
“All people with sperm should be concerned at the moment,” Khaled Kteily, CEO of the sperm testing and freezing company Legacy, told Newsweek. “We are experiencing a fertility crisis, and large worldwide studies have shown that sperm counts and quality, on average, are decreasing.”
However, this decline does not seem to be consistent across the U.S. “Sperm quality can’t be taken for granted-it really can vary, depending on where you live and how healthy you are,” Kteily said.
Our environment can play an important role in sperm quality, with temperature, air quality, diet and chemical pesticide exposure all linked to lower sperm counts.
To investigate variations in sperm count across the U.S., researchers analyzed 22,000 semen samples tested at Legacy’s labs to calculate an average sperm count for each state. Sperm concentrations vary widely between individuals, ranging from 15 million per milliliter to over 200 million, with anything under 15 million considered a “low sperm count.”
After analyzing data from all 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the places with the lowest average sperm counts were:
- Mississippi 25.7 million/mL
- South Carolina 28.9 million/mL
- Oklahoma 29.1 million/mL
- North Dakota 30.2 million/mL
- Delaware 30.7 million/mL
At the other end of the spectrum, those with the highest average sperm counts were:
- Wyoming 56.8 million/mL
- Idaho 55.6 million/mL
- Montana 54.4 million/mL
- Iowa 51.3 million/mL
- Washington, D.C. 49.1 million/mL
“Those who live in places with increased exposure to environmental factors, such as poor air quality or hot temperatures, that may impact their sperm should consider taking additional steps to protect their fertility,” Kteily said.
However, just because you live in a state with a low average sperm count does not mean you are at risk. Moreover, sperm count is not the only measure of male fertility.
“There are several others that should be assessed and considered,” Kteily said. “Each of these metrics may in turn be affected by the same environmental and lifestyle factors that affect sperm concentration, compounding the impact. It’s imperative to get a comprehensive semen analysis to understand each of these metrics in depth and get a full picture of a person’s fertility.”
So what should you do if you are concerned about your fertility?
“A 2023 survey from Legacy found that 3 in 4 men don’t truly understand what affects their fertility,” Kteily said. Therefore, all men should “educate themselves and become aware of the factors that may impact sperm health, including age, lifestyle and environmental exposures.”
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This story was originally published May 5, 2024, 5:00 AM.