A recent study has suggested that men with higher-quality sperm may live two to three years longer than those with lower sperm quality. The research, published in Human Reproduction, analyzed data from 78,284 men in Denmark collected over a period from 1965 to 2015. The men, who had their semen quality assessed due to reported infertility, were found to have varying life expectancies based on the quality of their sperm.
Dr. Larke Priskorn, a senior researcher at Copenhagen University Hospital, explained that previous studies had indicated a potential link between male infertility and reduced life expectancy. This study aimed to determine how much sperm quality could predict a man’s lifespan and if any pre-existing conditions might influence this association.
The study revealed that men with a higher total motile count (TMC)—a measure of sperm that can swim or move—tended to live longer. Specifically, men with a TMC of over 120 million had an average life expectancy of 2.7 years longer than those with a TMC of five million or less.
Dr. Priskorn further clarified, “The lower the semen quality, the lower the life expectancy,” adding that the findings were not influenced by the men’s educational background or any diseases diagnosed in the 10 years before their semen quality assessment.
The results suggest that fertility evaluations, commonly conducted when men are younger, could serve as an opportunity to detect potential health risks early. Dr. Niels Jorgensen, chief andrologist at Copenhagen University Hospital, emphasized that poor semen quality could indicate an increased risk of developing certain diseases in the future, even if the men appear healthy at the time of assessment.
The study followed the men over several decades, with 8,600 deaths recorded, accounting for 11% of the group. Researchers noted that the findings underscore the need for further investigation into how semen quality could be used as a predictor of long-term health and disease.
Future studies will explore whether poor semen quality is linked to specific causes of death, such as cancer or heart disease, and aim to identify biomarkers that could help detect men at increased health risks. Dr. Jorgensen concluded, “Identifying these biomarkers will be crucial for developing early prevention strategies.”
Related topics:
How Do Doctors Treat Chronic Epididymitis?
Beyond the Male Pill: Urgent Health Warnings for Black Males
Infertility: Experts Urge Early Medical Intervention for Couples Struggling to Conceive
