On 4 March, one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals Human Reproduction published the findings from the largest existing study, to examine the link between semen quality and mortality. Based on data from nearly 80,000 men, the study finds that higher semen quality is associated with a longer life expectancy – a discovery with major implications for men’s health. On average, those with the best semen quality could expect to live 2-3 years longer than those with the lowest.
The main authors of the study are Lærke Priskorn and Niels Jørgensen who are also part of ReproUnion. According to Lærke, previous research has suggested that male infertility and lower semen quality could be associated with mortality. In the press release, she further comments: We conducted this study to test the hypothesis and at the same time get an absolute estimate of how much semen quality predicts a man’s lifespan.
The findings underline the importance of fertility assessments as a window into broader health risks. On that topic Niels Jørgensen commented: We need to better understand the association between semen quality and men’s general health. However, this study suggests that we can identify subgroups of men with impaired semen quality who are apparently healthy when their semen quality is assessed, but who are at increased risk of developing certain diseases later in life.
The current study did not analyse whether poor semen quality was associated with earlier deaths from particular causes, such as cancer or heart disease, and Niels further commented: This is something we will be studying using other groups of men and we will also try to identify relevant biomarkers that can identify subgroups of men at increased risk. This is key to initiating relevant prevention strategies!
The ReproUnion Biobank & Infertility Cohort – RUBIC is a source for further research on the topic, with the benefit of having both Lærke and Niels on the team from the Department of Growth and Reproduction at Rigshospitalet. So stay tuned and join us to congratulate them and the wider group on this landmark study that will contribute in shaping future strategies to prevent infertility!
The news about the publication has been covered across the world by more than 1000 news sources, including CNN, the Guardian and nationally in Denmark and Sweden:
Nyt studie afslører sammenhæng mellem sædkvalitet og levetid – TV 2
Spermakvalitet: Män med bra spermakvalitet lever längre | illvet.se
