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Men’s average testosterone levels have halved in last 50 years, say scientists

Men's Testosterone Levels Drop 54% Since 1972

Above: Marine Corps officer candidates participated in a physical fitness test at Officer Candidate School (OCS) on June 24, 2026. Image credit: Scott Olson/Staff/Getty Images)

The Spin


Male testosterone levels dropped 54% between 1972 and 2019, and that's a full-blown public health emergency that isn't getting nearly enough attention. Obesity, diabetes and endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in everyday household products are driving this collapse in male reproductive health. Sperm counts have also cratered over the same period, and the science is too consistent across too many countries to dismiss.

The alarm over falling testosterone and sperm counts deserves serious scrutiny before society panics. A study of Danish sperm donor applicants found no significant change in sperm concentration between 2017 and 2022, directly challenging the sweeping meta-analyses driving these headlines. Obesity and diabetes alone could account for the entire testosterone decline, meaning lifestyle factors — not some mysterious environmental crisis — are the real culprit.

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.4.1

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.4.1