High-Quality Sperm Linked to Longer Life: Study Reveals

A recent study published in the journal *Human Reproduction* suggests that men with high-quality sperm (higher total motile count) live 2 to 3 years longer than those with lower sperm quality. The study, conducted in Denmark, analyzed data from 78,284 men between 1965 and 2015 who had sperm tests due to infertility concerns.

The study found that men with a higher total motile count (TMC) — the number of sperm that are active and capable of swimming — had a longer life expectancy. Researchers indicate that these findings could mean sperm tests could be used in the future to predict and prevent potential health problems.

Dr. Larke Perskorn, a senior researcher from the Department of Growth and Reproduction at Copenhagen University Hospital, explained that previous studies had linked male infertility and low sperm quality with higher mortality rates. This study aimed to test that hypothesis.

The results showed that men with a TMC of over 120 million, considered to have healthy sperm, lived on average 2.7 years longer than those with a TMC between zero and five million. Dr. Perskorn stated that lower sperm quality was directly associated with a reduced life expectancy.

Dr. Niels Jørgensen, Chief Andrologist at Copenhagen University Hospital, cautioned that while the study shows an interesting association, further research is needed to fully understand these links. He emphasized that identifying men with poor sperm quality, who might appear healthy but have a higher risk of developing certain diseases later in life, could be crucial.

The study tracked 8,600 deaths during the follow-up period, accounting for 11% of the total group. However, the research did not explore whether poor sperm quality was directly connected to causes of death such as cancer or heart disease. Dr. Jørgensen suggested that these connections would be explored in future studies.