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The number of spermatozoa declines rapidly and researchers believe that environmental factors are at stake. Tony Spitz of Veuer has the details.
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Illustration of human sperm. Male fertility could decline with global warming due to climate change. (Photo: Eraxion, Getty Images / iStockphoto)

The last problem related to global warming: the number of male sperm.

This is not good news. According to a new study released Tuesday, male fertility appears to be declining as temperatures rise sharply. The study showed "clear evidence" that stress caused by heat waves reduced the "sperm count and viability" of insects.

Yes, scientists used beetles to test their theory. But researchers say that insects can be used as a proxy for people.

Coleoptera are one of the most widespread species on Earth. "These results are therefore very important for understanding how species respond to climate change," said Matt Gage, co-author of the study, Ecologist at the University of East Anglia, UK. United.

It is expected that heat waves will be more frequent and more extreme during this century as man-made climate change continues.

"Research has also shown that heat shock can also adversely affect males' reproduction in warm-blooded animals." Have shown that this causes infertility in mammals, "added Dr. 39 principal author Kirs Sales, also from the University of East Anglia.

"Our research shows that heat waves halve male reproductive fitness, and it was surprising to see the consistency of the effect," he added.

In humans, the testes produce sperm and, to do this, the temperature of the testicles must be cooler than that of the interior of the body, according to the University Medical Center from Rochester.

study released Tuesday, researchers found that "heat wave conditions (9 to 13 degrees above the normal maximum temperature for 5 days) damaged the reproduction of men, but not women. Heat waves reduce male fertility and the competitiveness of sperm, and successive heat waves nearly sterilize men, "the study said.

In addition, the offspring of fathers who had endured heat lived shorter lives.

"When that happens … To conclude, the sales are conclusive.

The study was published in Nature Communications, a peer-reviewed British journal.

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