A large-scale meta-analysis has revealed that since 1972, the global level of male hormones has decreased by 54%, and this concerning trend is accelerating annually.
Men worldwide are massively losing male hormones / © pixabay.com
Over the past half-century, the average testosterone level in men globally has fallen by more than half, indicating a widespread crisis in male reproductive health. Scientists attribute the rapid decline of this key hormone to the global prevalence of obesity, diabetes, as well as the negative impact of household chemicals and climate change.
This is reported by The Guardian.
The Scale of Testosterone Decline
Data on the sharp decrease in hormone levels were presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in London. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of six previous long-term studies, pooling data from 118,593 men from Israel, the USA, Brazil, Finland, and Denmark for the period from 1972 to 2019.
The results showed an overall decline in testosterone levels by 54%, with this process noticeably accelerating after the year 2000.
“We are observing a decrease in total testosterone of more than 50% during this period. This reflects a decline of more than 1% annually, so it’s not a random occurrence, not a statistical error. It’s a very strong trend,” emphasized Professor Hagai Levine from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the Hebrew University.
The Role of Obesity and the Environment
The relationship between testosterone levels and overall health is very complex. Testosterone regulates sperm production, libido, helps build muscle mass and bone density, and also affects mood and metabolism.
Medical professionals note that excess body fat increases the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, inevitably leading to a decrease in male hormones. Professor Levine suggests that a quarter to half of this global decline can be attributed to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Professor Channa Jayasena from Imperial College London and a consultant in reproductive endocrinology adds that obesity and diabetes may not be the sole causes. According to him, scientists still need to determine the precise role of environmental factors and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in this phenomenon.
The Danger of Hormone Supplements
Against the backdrop of alarming news about declining testosterone levels, advertisements for various testosterone supplements have begun to spread actively on social media. However, doctors strongly caution against self-treatment.
Professor Allan Pacey, an andrologist at the University of Manchester, emphasizes that the use of such preparations has a highly dangerous side effect. According to the specialist, if a man is given artificial testosterone, his body simply stops producing sperm naturally, which deals a devastating blow to reproductive function.
We remind you that doctors have warned about a dangerous male condition that threatens one in five men. Essentially, the pathology is the enlargement of one or more veins in the scrotum, which ultimately disrupts the optimal conditions for sperm maturation.
Comments Sort by: New Old Popular Submit