Study links environmental pollution to differences in male semen quality

Madrid. — A study conducted in Spain suggests that environmental factors could play a decisive role in the quality of male semen, after finding significant differences between men from different regions of the country despite having similar lifestyles.

The research analyzed samples from nearly 400 men evaluated at assisted reproduction centers between June 2024 and December 2025, taking into account aspects such as diet, physical activity, body mass index, tobacco and alcohol consumption, medications, and other health-related habits.

The results showed that, although the participants maintained similar lifestyle patterns, seminal quality varied significantly depending on the area of residence. Men from northern Spain showed better indicators, while the central and southern regions recorded lower values in several evaluated parameters.

Among the differences found are variations in sperm concentration, motility, semen volume, sperm shape, and total number of motile sperm.

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The study coordinator, biologist specializing in assisted reproduction Rocío Núñez Calonge, explained that since no relevant differences were found in the participants’ habits, the researchers believe that environmental exposure could be the main cause of these variations.

“Men’s habits are the same in all the regions studied, so the only explanation for the differences in semen quality must be environmental,” stated the specialist, who pointed out that pollution appears to be one of the factors that must be investigated the most.

The researchers pointed out that areas with higher levels of pollution could be related to lower seminal quality, although they clarified that the study does not yet identify a specific pollutant as responsible.

Núñez Calonge highlighted that low semen quality can increase the difficulties in achieving a pregnancy, but it does not necessarily mean that there is an impact on the health of the babies once gestation is achieved.

The work, presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), highlights the need to expand research on the impact of pollutants, industrial chemicals, and other environmental agents on reproductive health.

Specialists pointed out that, although maintaining healthy habits continues to be important, exposure to certain environmental factors could represent a challenge that requires responses from public health policies.