Is a Male Crisis Looming? "Testosterone Levels Cut in Half Over 50 Years"

A new study suggests that men are facing a crisis in reproductive health, with average testosterone levels having dropped by nearly half over the past 50 years.
Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, plays a key role in regulating sperm production and libido, while also helping to increase muscle mass and bone density.
It also influences metabolism, mood, and energy levels.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian on July 7 (local time), these findings were presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) held in London that day.
The research team reported that the average testosterone level in men decreased by 54% between 1972 and 2019.
The study analyzed data from 118,593 men from countries including Israel, the United States, Brazil, Finland, and Denmark.
The researchers attributed the sharp decline in testosterone to the rise in obesity and diabetes.
They also suggested that environmental factors, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in various household products and global warming, may have contributed to the reduction in testosterone.
Professor Hagai Levine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who participated in the study, pointed out, "We are facing a major crisis in male reproductive health, with testosterone levels dropping by more than 50%, yet it is not receiving enough attention."
"The study shows that testosterone levels have been declining by more than 1% annually," Professor Levine emphasized. "This is not a coincidence or a statistical error, but a very strong trend."
As awareness of declining male testosterone levels spreads, some are raising concerns about the increase in advertisements for testosterone supplements on social media and other platforms.
Allan Pacey, a professor of andrology at the University of Manchester in the U.K., warned, "The solution presented in these advertisements is to administer testosterone. However, administering testosterone to men can stop sperm production. I have seen such cases in clinical practice."
(Photo: Provided by Columbia University Fertility Center website, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.