I thought it was worth offering news updates regarding male fertility when I came across two recent articles. One update is about dropping sperm counts; the other is about male birth control.

News item number 1: Drop in male fertility

What’s causing a drop in sperm counts? The exact cause isn’t known. However, a February 2026 study titled “From lab slide to finish line: can competitive sperm racing spotlight declining male fertility?”^[i] describes two main theories: environmental chemical exposure, and/or unhealthy lifestyles.

Environmental chemical exposure

The first theory, chemical exposure, is based on an observable correlation between modern chemical exposure and lower sperm counts. Scientists point to lifelong (and even prebirth) food, air and water exposure to synthetic chemicals that negatively influence natural endocrine (hormone) systems in the body. The authors write that such synthetics “can mimic or block sex hormones and have been shown to impair testicular development in animal models.”

Though difficult to test and prove in humans, many experts attribute a wider scope of problems, noting that industrialized regions have “higher rates of male genital birth defects, infertility, and testicular cancer.” Ouch.

Unhealthy lifestyle

The second theory, which concerns lifestyle choices, places responsibility for suboptimal sperm production on poor diet and lack of exercise. Men who are overweight or obese have lower sperm counts than men with normal weight. In contrast to diets rich in fruits and vegetables, diets high in sugar and processed foods may contribute to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation not only in the body, but specifically in the reproductive tract.

Just as diet and exercise may play a role in sperm count, they also influence erectile function. Check out my blog on the relationship between healthy nutrition, physical activity, and erections, “You are What You Eat, and so is Your Sexual Function.”

News item number 2: Male birth control

The second article I read was not from a journal, but a medical news report titled, “As male birth control gets closer to reality, men are lining up for clinical trials.”^[ii] Until recently, social attitudes placed responsibility for preventing an unwanted pregnancy largely on women. True, men could use condoms or have a vasectomy, but since birth control pills and other reversible contraceptive methods became available, many men simply shrugged off the issue and left it to their female partners.

It now appears that, in the lyrics of Bob Dylan, “the times they are a-changin’.”

According to an international survey in 2021 and 2022, 61% of men said they would be open to trying a male contraceptive. In the U.S., only 39% said they would — a percentage that jumped to 49% when the survey was administered again in 2023, after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturned the federal right to abortion. … A separate survey conducted in 2023 and published this year found that two-thirds of American women were interested in their partner using birth control, and 75% of them thought their partners would be open to using it. 

Effective, safe, and reversible birth control for men may soon be within reach. Clinical trials are occurring for three potential products:

• NES/T – A gel applied once daily to the skin of shoulders and upper arms would be absorbed through the skin and lower sperm count. It is formulated from two hormones, nesterone and testosterone. Having completed a global Phase 2 trial, it is the closest to completing testing and gaining approval.
• YCT-520 – A birth control pill for men is in early testing stages. It contains no hormones, but it blocks the body’s use of Vitamin A, which is necessary for sperm production.
• ADAM – A nonhormonal hydrogel injected by a doctor into the vas deferens to reversibly block sperm from entering male ejaculate. It is done with local numbing. Over time, the gel liquifies, removing the barrier. Early tests have promising results, and the developer is seeking volunteers for clinical trials.

Ironic updates

Given the two news stories I’ve summarized, it’s ironic that on the one hand, male fertility appears to be on the decline, and on the other hand there is a growing push for male birth control. If researchers can figure out how to reverse infertility by boosting sperm count, the arrival of male contraceptives will no doubt be welcome indeed.

NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain, or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.

References

[i] Noakes J, Bishop AK, Daffner M, Burns JT et al. From lab slide to finish line: can competitive sperm racing spotlight declining male fertility? Int J Impot Res. 2026 Feb 2.
[ii] Merrill, Annalisa. “As male birth control gets closer to reality, men are lining up for clinical trials.” STAT10 Newsletter, Feb. 2, 2026. https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/02/male-birth-control-clinical-trial-volunteers-men-want-this/