Aimee Walker
Most couples ‘will be infertile by 2045’ an expert has warned.
Shanna Swan, a professor of environmental medicine, predicts that in just over 20 years many couples will need assistance when conceiving a child.
She says that the ‘median sperm count’ is likely to drop to zero after a 2017 analysis revealed it was already on the decline.
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The hormone expert told The Guardian: “People are recognising we have a reproductive health crisis. But they say it’s because of delayed childbearing, choice or lifestyle – it can’t be chemical.
“When a colleague and I looked at the change in impaired fecundity [the ability to have children] we were surprised to see younger women had experienced a bigger increase than older age groups. This suggests that something besides ageing and delayed childbearing is affecting fertility.
“Moreover, there’s compelling evidence that the risk of miscarriage has been rising among women of all ages.”
Swan believes most couples will have to use IVF or medication to conceive, as she’s beginning to notice a rise in infertility amongst younger generations.
The expert, and fellow researchers, are following the chemical patterns entering the body through plastics. This has led to a link being found with fertility issues.
BPA, a chemical found in plastics, appears to be interfering or mimicking the body’s sex hormones. As a result, testosterone and estrogen are being disrupted.
It’s been ‘found to be more frequently detected in infertile women,’ according to BioMed Central.
This is leading to a disruption in the success of IVF treatment too.
Similarly, phthalates have been proven to affect sperm count since their introduction to plastics in the 1930s.
Featured Image Credit: Pexel
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