A large-scale meta-analysis study revealed that since 1972, the overall level of male hormone worldwide has decreased by 54%, and this alarming trend is accelerating year by year.
Men worldwide are massively losing male hormone / © pixabay.com
Over the past half-century, the average level of testosterone in men globally has dropped by more than half, indicating a widespread crisis in male reproductive health. Scientists link 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.
The Guardian reports on this.
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, combining 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 2000.
“We are seeing a decrease in total testosterone of over 50% during this period. This reflects a decrease of more than 1% each year, so it is not a coincidence, it is not a statistical error. It is 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, bone density, and also affects mood and metabolism.
Medical professionals note that excess body fat increases the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, which inevitably leads to a decrease in male hormone. 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 are yet to determine the exact role of environmental factors and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in this.
The Danger of Hormone Supplements
Amidst the 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 from the University of Manchester’s Department of Andrology emphasizes that taking such medications has a very dangerous side effect. According to the specialist, if a man is given artificial testosterone, his body simply stops natural sperm production, which deals a devastating blow to reproductive function.
Recall that doctors warned about a dangerous male condition that threatens one in five men. Essentially, the pathology is the dilation of one or more veins in the scrotum, which ultimately disrupts the optimal conditions for sperm maturation.
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