Daijiworld Media Network - Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Mar 6: A groundbreaking study has revealed a significant connection between sperm quality and lifespan, suggesting that men with higher motile sperm counts tend to live longer. Researchers observed nearly 80,000 men over five decades, finding that those with over 120 million motile sperm could expect to live two to three years longer than those with counts between 0 and 5 million.

The extensive research, published in Human Reproduction, was conducted by Dr. Laerke Priskorn and Dr Niels Jorgensen from Copenhagen University Hospital. They analyzed data from 78,284 men who underwent semen analysis between 1965 and 2015 due to fertility concerns, examining semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and morphology.

Utilizing Danish national registers, the team tracked mortality rates within the group. Of the participants, 8,600 (11%) had died during the follow-up period. Further analysis of 59,657 men, who provided detailed information between 1987 and 2015, included education level and medical history.

"Previous research suggested a link between male infertility, lower semen quality, and mortality. Our study aimed to quantify this association and determine if pre-existing conditions influenced the results," Dr Priskorn explained.

The study revealed that men with higher semen quality had a significantly increased life expectancy. "Men with over 120 million motile sperm lived 2.7 years longer than those with 0 to 5 million," Dr Priskorn stated. "This correlation remained even after accounting for pre-existing diseases and education levels."

Researchers believe that semen quality may serve as an indicator of overall health. "This study suggests that fertility evaluations can identify seemingly healthy men at risk of future health issues," Dr Jorgensen said. "We plan to further investigate the association between semen quality and specific causes of death, such as cancer and heart disease, and identify biomarkers for risk assessment."