A recent study has raised concerns about the impact of low oxygen levels on male fertility, linking conditions like high-altitude hiking and sleep apnoea to a decline in sperm quality. Published in Nature Reviews Urology, the review article suggests that a lack of oxygen, known as “testis hypoxia,” could play a significant role in the reduction of male fertility observed over the past 50 years.

The study examines how exposure to low oxygen levels, caused by factors like hiking at high altitudes and sleep apnoea, could damage testicular function and, ultimately, reproductive health. Testis hypoxia, which occurs when the testes are deprived of sufficient oxygen, may impair sperm production and affect overall fertility.

Male infertility is defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after at least 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse, while sub-fertility refers to a reduced ability to conceive.

This study highlights the growing concern about male reproductive health and calls for further research into the environmental and physiological factors contributing to fertility issues. Experts urge individuals, particularly those engaging in activities that limit oxygen supply to the testes, to be mindful of potential long-term effects on their fertility.