Yesterday, I was happened to catch the end of a show about different species that can reproduce asexually. One of the things the show talked about was the dramatic reduction in sperm production in human males over the past few decades.
Men today produce about 50% less sperm than 30 years ago. While scientists aren't absolutely sure that it is the cause, they believe it is because of the residual contraceptives found in drinking water. Only about 20% of the hormones in oral contraceptives are used by the body--the rest are excreted through the urine into the water supply. While our water purification/filtration plants in the U.S. do a fairly decent job of taking out most of the microbes, etc., they aren't equipped to remove the increased amounts of female hormones. Scientists think that the increased amounts of oral contraceptives in the water is leading to the reduction of sperm production.
So what are your thoughts about this? For me, it's a bit alarming since I am a) married to a man, b) trying to get pregnant, and c) have two boys. I am trying to find the sources for these claims--any one heard of this before and can you point me in the direction of the science behind the assumptions?
Men today produce about 50% less sperm than 30 years ago. While scientists aren't absolutely sure that it is the cause, they believe it is because of the residual contraceptives found in drinking water. Only about 20% of the hormones in oral contraceptives are used by the body--the rest are excreted through the urine into the water supply. While our water purification/filtration plants in the U.S. do a fairly decent job of taking out most of the microbes, etc., they aren't equipped to remove the increased amounts of female hormones. Scientists think that the increased amounts of oral contraceptives in the water is leading to the reduction of sperm production.
So what are your thoughts about this? For me, it's a bit alarming since I am a) married to a man, b) trying to get pregnant, and c) have two boys. I am trying to find the sources for these claims--any one heard of this before and can you point me in the direction of the science behind the assumptions?
