""Overall, we're seeing a significant worldwide decline in sperm counts..."" by Deexa Khanduri via sputniknews A study published in the Human Reproduction Update journal collected data from more than 57,000 men over 223 studies across 53 countries, making it the largest meta-analysis ever conducted on the topic. Worldwide average sperm counts are "falling at an accelerated rate after halving over the last 40 years," according to a new study led by Israeli epidemiologist Hagai Levine. Sperm counts are not only an indicator of fertility but also of male health in general: a low count may indicate an increased risk of chronic diseases, testicular cancer, and a decreased lifespan, researchers said. "Overall, we're seeing a significant worldwide decline in sperm counts of over 50% in the past 46 years, a decline that has accelerated in recent years," Levine told reporters. Despite the decrease, the average sperm concentration is currently 49 million, still in the range considered "normal"