Which state in the US has the highest sperm count?
Male infertility has become a growing concern in the United States in recent decades, with sperm counts declining by more than 50 percent over the past 50 years.
“Everyone with sperm should be concerned at this point,” said Khaled Koutairy, CEO of sperm testing and freezing company Legacy. newsweek. “We are facing a fertility crisis, and large-scale studies worldwide show that, on average, sperm count and quality are declining.”
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But this decline doesn't seem to be consistent across the U.S.: “Sperm quality cannot be taken for granted. In fact, it varies depending on where you live and your health status.” Mr. Lee said.
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Our environment can play an important role in sperm quality, with temperature, air quality, diet, and exposure to chemical pesticides all linked to low sperm counts.
To examine variations in sperm counts across the United States, researchers analyzed 22,000 semen samples tested at Legacy's labs and calculated the average sperm count for each state. Sperm concentration varies greatly between individuals, ranging from 15 million to more than 200 million per milliliter, and anything less than 15 million is considered a “low sperm count.”
After analyzing data from all 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the regions with the lowest average sperm counts were:
- mississippi 25.7 million/mL
- south carolina 28.9 million/mL
- oklahoma 29.1 million/mL
- north dakota 30.2 million/mL
- Delaware 30.7 million/mL
At the other end of the spectrum, the people with the highest average sperm counts are:
- wyoming 56.8 million/mL
- idaho 55.6 million/mL
- montana 54.4 million/mL
- iowa 51.3 million/mL
- Washington DC 49.1 million/mL
“People who live in places where there is increased exposure to environmental factors that can affect sperm, such as poor air quality or high temperatures, are advised to take additional steps to protect their fertility. We need to look into it,” Keitaly said.
But just because you live in a state with a low average sperm count doesn't mean you're at risk. Furthermore, sperm count is not the only measure of a man's fertility.
“There are some other things to evaluate and consider,” Keitaly said. “Each of these indicators can be influenced by the same environmental and lifestyle factors that affect sperm concentration, and their influence is even greater. It is essential to undergo a comprehensive semen analysis to get a complete picture of an individual's fertility. “
So what should you do if you're concerned about your fertility?
“Legacy's 2023 study found that three out of four men don't really understand what affects their fertility,” Keitaly said. Therefore, all men need to “educate and be aware of the factors that can affect sperm health, including age, lifestyle, and environmental exposures.”
Do you have a health concern? Let us know at health@newsweek.com. You can ask experts for advice and your story could be featured in an upcoming article. newsweek.
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