Noisy suburban streets significantly reduce men's fertility, new research reveals.

Researchers believe night-time noise disturbs sleep, leading to male infertility.

Previous research revealed getting less than six hours of sleep a night reduces a man's chance of getting a woman pregnant by 43 percent.

This is thought to be due to a lack of shut eye being associated with a lowered sperm count, altered sperm shape and reduced testosterone levels.

Infertility problems affect around one in six couples globally at least once in their lifetime, either temporarily or permanently.

Noisy suburban streets significantly reduce men's fertility, new research reveals

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How the study was carried out

Researchers from Seoul National University analyzed 206,492 men aged between 20 and 59 from 2006 to 2013.

They calculated noise levels using information from the National Noise Information System combined with the study's participant's postcodes.

Of the participants, 3,293 were diagnosed with infertility during the study.

Key findings

Results, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, revealed that night-time exposure to a noise level of 55 dB - the equivalent of a suburban street - significantly increases a man's likelihood of being diagnosed with infertility.

The researchers speculate that night-time noise may disturb sleep, leading to male infertility.

Past research

Research from Boston University released in October last year revealed that getting less than six hours of sleep a night reduces a man's chances of getting a woman pregnant by 43 percent.

Dr Lauren Wise, author of the Boston University study, said: 'Sleep problems specifically have been associated with lower sperm concentrations, total sperm count and per cent of normal sperm morphology (shape), as well as decreased testosterone levels'.

Additional past research revealed that every extra 10 decibels of traffic noise increases a woman's chances of taking more than six months to get pregnant by eight percent.

This is thought to be due to noise pollution affecting women's ovulation cycle.