More than two and a half million* men in the UK could be suffering from low fertility warn GPs, according to a report out today. And a third (33%) of GPs admit they are concerned that the decline in male fertility will add to the ageing population issues we are currently facing.
More than two and a half million* men in the UK could be suffering from low fertility warn GPs, according to a report out today. And a third (33%) of GPs admit they are concerned that the decline in male fertility will add to the ageing population issues we are currently facing.
In fact more than a quarter (29%) of GPs questioned in Norwich Union Healthcare’s ‘Male Fertility’ study say that low male fertility will have a detrimental impact on the nation’s population in the future unless men take stock and change their lifestyle habits now.
Dr Doug Wright, clinical spokesperson from Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "The ‘Male Fertility Report’ clearly disproves the common misconception that women are the only sufferers of fertility issues. With the next generation facing increasing pressure as a result of declining fertility and mortality it’s only fair that men accept their responsibility in the equation and change their lifestyles now before it’s too late."
Male infertility accounts for around a third of fertility problems. The quality and numbers of sperm that a man produces have both declined over the past 30 years.1
Some experts say that sperm counts have fallen by over half on average thanks to lifestyle factors like alcohol and drugs as well as sedentary lifestyles, obesity, laptops on men’s laps which heat up their scrotums, pesticides and female hormones in the water supply from the urine of women on the contraceptive pill.2
GP Dr Ann Robinson commented "Lifestyle is a huge contributor to the health of the nation and male fertility is just one area adversely affected by an unhealthy lifestyle. With so many couples now experiencing the heartache of fertility problems, the fall in sperm counts is certainly a matter for concern. The results of this survey are shocking and should be a wake up call to men and women that drinking and smoking too much not only gives you a bad headache in the morning but can affect your ability to start a family."
The GPs questioned agree, with nearly half (44%) saying that smoking is overwhelmingly the main contributing factor to low male fertility. With the Government still debating whether a ban on smoking in public places will be introduced, together with the new 24 hour drinking laws introduced this year, the fertility of the nation could be set to get worse as GPs also pointed the finger of blame at alcohol (11%) and stress (7%).
Dr Doug Wright added, "The survey results show that men don’t really think their fertility will be an issue as 59% questioned believe women are the most likely to suffer from fertility difficulties and only 12% view their own fertility as a concern when thinking about starting a family."
Nearly half the men questioned (49%) were more concerned with the financial implications of raising a child than their ability to father one.
More than two thirds (67%) of GPs believe young men need to be made more aware of fertility issues to stop this potential crisis with over half (52%) saying that male fertility issues should be part of the curriculum. Men on the other hand believe that the NHS is responsible for making them more aware of their fertility with nearly two thirds (63%) saying so.
Over two thirds of men (69%) say it would be beneficial for doctors to run fertility MOTs for men wishing to start a family and 41% of GPs agree that fertility MOT’s should be available to male patients. But 89% of GPs feel that they don’t have enough time to offer male fertility clinics or services such as Fertility MOTs.
But in the meantime according to Dr Robinson: "Any man worried about his sperm count can cut down on his alcohol intake, stop smoking, cut out drugs and try to get his weight down if very overweight. These are all factors that might affect your sperm count that men can do something about. There may also be a case for eating organic produce that doesn’t contain pesticides and drinking mineral rather than tap water but the jury is still out on that."
Other findings from Norwich Union Healthcare’s ‘Male Fertility Report’ show:
- 34% of men believe they would be able to conceive within two months but more than three quarters of GPs (76%) believe it will take the average couple between three and six months
- Only 5% of men are aware that they may have a lower sperm count than average
- More than one in ten men (12%) found it more difficult than they expected to get their partner pregnant
-ends-
Media contacts:
Charlotte Ruddlesdin or Jo Misson, QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424
Norwich Union Press Office contacts:
Lorna Wiltshire: 020 7662 1013 or 07800 695 150
James Evans: 01904 452 791 or 07800 699 525
Notes to editors:
Case studies available on request.
*According to ONS there are 28,579,869 million men in the UK. Norwich Union Healthcare’s research shows that 9% of them could be suffering from low fertility. This equates to 2,572,188 men.
1 Increase in scrotal temperature in laptop computer users. Human Reproduction. Doi:10.1093/humrep/deh616
2 Hormones in water blamed as more men seek breast reduction, Professor Kefah Mokbel, - www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1715014,00.html
- Norwich Union Healthcare commissioned a representative sample of 797 GB adult men aged between 16 and 54 to be interviewed between the 16 and 22 August 2005 by TNS. The insurer also commissioned a representative sample of 202 GPs to be interviewed between the 18 and 22 August 2005 by TNS Healthcare.
About Norwich Union Healthcare
- Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protection and private medical insurance products that cover over 870,000 lives. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
- Norwich Union Healthcare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Service Authority and is a member of the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva’s internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.
- An ISDN facility is available for studio quality broadcast. Call QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424.