It’s a disaster of titanic proportions, says Hagai Levine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A study he published this year found a 50 per cent decline in sperm counts among Western men from 1973 to 2011. On top of that, sperm production declines with age, and more men are leaving it later to have kids. “I am very worried,” he says. “We cannot escape from it.”

In this special pilot podcast, presented by Geoff Marsh, we hear from journalist Moya Sarner, who wrote a story for New Scientist about the looming crisis. Geoff speaks to Levine and Allan Pacey at the University of Sheffield, a self-confessed “grumpy sceptic” about declining sperm. Marine ecologist Jon Copley tells us about another male fertility crisis affecting our oceans. And Geoff visits a clinic to find out how his sperm are holding up.

Listen below on Soundcloud.


If you have any suggestions or comments please let us know at podcasts@newscientist.com.

Further listening: Podcast: How your thinking style is getting you into trouble