Studies show that today’s fruit and vegetables contain fewer vitamins. The main reasons for this are:

Reference: Guidelines on food fortification with micronutrients by Lindsay Allen et al. World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2006
Male factor subfertility: possible causes and the Impact of nutritional factors. Wong WY et al., Fertil Steril 2000 73:435-442

From approx. age 40, sperm quality starts to deteriorate; women younger than 30 years old had a 25% less chance of conceiving if their partner was over 40, compared to a younger partner. At the same time there are more and more men in their 40s, who after pursuing their career, are now ready to settle down in a steady relationship and start a family. It is currently en vogue for older men to become fathers; men are thus also waiting longer to start a family. Although there is no actual change in men, it is well-known that the decline in sperm count and sperm motility is age-related. There is also a significant deterioration in sexual function with increasing age. There are also age-related chromosomal changes (genetic changes) in men.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plasticizer and with an annual production volume of almost 4 million tonnes, one of the most produced chemicals. The chemical is found in many plastic consumer products as well as containers that store food and beverages. Traces of BPA can also be found in the internal coating of food tins. Alarmingly, BPA is also used in the production of baby pacifiers and baby bottles. Researchers from Michigan demonstrated a link between Bisphenol A concentrations in urine samples and altered levels of reproductive hormones.

Factory workers from China, who were exposed to BPA, showed sexual listlessness, as well as problems with erection and ejaculation. The U.S. researchers compared BPA concentrations in the urine of 218 Chinese workers with their sperm quality.

The results showed that higher BPA concentrations increased the risk for a poor sperm quality by two to four times. This also affected both sperm concentration as well as sperm vitality and motility, which are essential for fertilisation (Source)

Certain pharmacons (such as anabolic steroids, medication with estrogenic, progestogenic or androgenic effect) can interfere with endocrine regulatory mechanisms and thus impact on fertility. Some substances such as cytostatic agents, some antibiotics and immunosuppressants may have a direct gonadotoxic effect by inhibiting spermatogenesis. Tranquilizers and antidepressants, antihypertensive, antiepileptic and cardiovascular drugs can reduce libido and erectile function, some cases of reduced ability to ejaculate have also been reported.

Temperature: The normal testicular temperature is approximately 35°C. Heat (e.g. steel worker, heated seats, long periods of sitting for drivers, welding, and frequent sauna visits) can lead to an increase in scrotal temperature, and thus have a fertility-reducing effect. This can lead to asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia or teratozoospermia.