Fertility crisis: The decline of reproductive systems

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• February 24, 2023

Decreasing quality and quantity of human male sperm are being observed in many urbanized areas worldwide and are linked to numerous diseases. This decline in sperm health may lead to infertility, potentially putting the future of the human race at risk. Sperm quality and quantity can be affected by various factors, such as age, lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and underlying health conditions. 

Fertility crisis context

According to Scientific American, reproductive problems in males and females are increasing at about 1 percent annually in Western countries. This development includes declining sperm counts, decreasing testosterone levels, an increase in testicular cancer, and a rise in miscarriage rates and gestational surrogacy in females. Additionally, the total fertility rate worldwide has decreased by about 1 percent per year from 1960 to 2018. 

These reproductive issues may be caused by the presence of hormone-altering chemicals, also known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), in the environment. These EDCs can be found in various household and personal care products and have been increasing in production since the 1950s when sperm counts and fertility began to decline. Food and plastic are considered the primary source of chemicals like pesticides and phthalates known to have a detrimental effect on testosterone and estrogen levels along with the quality of sperm and egg. 

Additionally, long-term causes of male reproductive problems include obesity, consumption of alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and using drugs, which were noticeably seen to increase after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Prenatal exposure to EDCs can affect the reproductive development of a fetus, particularly male fetuses, and increase the risk of genital defects, low sperm count, and testicular cancer in adulthood.

Disruptive impact 

Male lifespans may gradually decrease, as will their quality of life by later ages, if the trend of falling testosterone rates continues unhampered. Moreover, the costs associated with screening and treatment may mean that a long-term male fertility crisis may disproportionately affect low-income families who may have limited access to fertility clinic services. Advances in sperm analysis methods can be expected to get the whole picture beyond the sperm count and to devise comprehensive prevention measures and treatment methods where possible. Mass calls to ban plastics and related phthalate-containing compounds can also be expected by the 2030s.

More obviously, a decrease in fertility rates can lead to a long-term decline in population sizes, which can have economic and social implications. A smaller population can lead to a worker shortage, adversely affecting economic growth and development. It can also result in an aging population, with a larger proportion of elderly individuals who may require more healthcare and social services. This development can burden the healthcare system and potentially strain government resources.

Developed economies already experiencing a population decline due to younger generations marrying later in life or choosing to remain childless will likely feel the increased pressure from a widespread fertility crisis. Governments may increase incentives and subsidies to help those who want to conceive. Some countries offer financial incentives, such as cash payments or tax breaks, to families with children to encourage reproduction. Others provide other forms of support to help families afford childcare and natal healthcare costs. This option can make it easier for parents to consider having more children.

Implications of a global fertility crisis

Wider implications of a fertility crisis may include: 

• High mortality rates and increasing natal healthcare issues among low-income communities.
• Greater awareness leading to stronger preventative measures like monitoring the use of products with EDCs and plastics.
• Mass calls for bans on endocrine disruptors in everyday items and packaging.
• Governments in developed economies subsidizing fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
• Decreasing global populations leading to the widespread use of robots and autonomous machines to augment the workforce.

Questions to consider

• If your country is experiencing a fertility crisis, how is your government supporting families who want to conceive? 

• What are the other potential long-term effects of declining reproductive systems?