Background: Global fertility rates and sperm counts have been declining significantly over recent decades, raising concerns about human reproductive health. This decline is multifactorial, involving lifestyle dysregulation, exposure to environmental pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
Objectives: This review aims to elucidate the interconnected roles of lifestyle factors, environmental toxicants, and EDCs in contributing to reproductive dysfunction. It also explores current preventive strategies and highlights the need for multidisciplinary interventions.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature survey of epidemiological studies, meta-analyses, and mechanistic research was conducted to synthesize evidence on fertility decline and sperm count reduction globally.
Results: Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, obesity, smoking, and stress disrupt hormonal balance and gamete quality. Environmental pollutants including heavy metals, air particulates, and pesticides cause reproductive toxicity through oxidative stress and DNA damage. EDCs interfere with hormonal signaling and induce epigenetic modifications affecting fertility. Regulatory frameworks and lifestyle interventions show promise in mitigating these effects, but further research and global collaboration are urgently needed.
Conclusion: The fertility crisis reflects a complex interplay of modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Multidisciplinary efforts encompassing public health policies, individual lifestyle changes, and advanced research are critical to preserving reproductive health worldwide.
Keywords: Fertility decline, Sperm count reduction, Lifestyle factors, Environmental pollutants, Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, Reproductive toxicity, Public health interventions
