Men with better semen quality tend to live longer, according to a major new study involving nearly 80,000 men. Published in Human Reproduction, a leading journal in reproductive medicine, the research found a clear link between sperm motility and life expectancy.
The study followed men for up to 50 years. It showed that those with more than 120 million motile (moving) sperm had a life expectancy two to three years longer than those with only 0–5 million motile sperm.
“This is the largest study of its kind to explore how semen quality relates to mortality,” said the research team from Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet in Denmark. Led by Dr. Lærke Priskorn and Dr. Niels Jørgensen, the study used data from men who had semen analyzed at a Copenhagen lab between 1965 and 2015. These men were initially referred due to fertility concerns. Semen tests assessed volume, sperm count, shape, and movement.
Researchers used Danish national registers to track deaths among the participants. Of the 78,284 men included, 8,600 died during the follow-up period. The team also had more detailed health and education data for 59,657 men who gave samples between 1987 and 2015.
Even after adjusting for socioeconomic status and pre-existing medical conditions, the results were consistent: better semen quality was linked to longer life.
Dr. Priskorn explained: “Our findings show that men with the highest semen quality lived an average of 2.7 years longer than those with the lowest. The lower the sperm count and motility, the shorter the life expectancy. This wasn’t explained by health conditions in the previous decade or differences in education.”
The researchers believe semen quality could serve as an early indicator of overall health. Poor semen may signal hidden problems that also affect lifespan.
Dr. Jørgensen added: “We need to understand why semen quality is tied to general health. Fertility checks in younger men may help identify those at higher risk of illness later in life.”
The team now plans to investigate specific causes of early death, such as cancer or heart disease, and to search for biomarkers that might flag health risks in men with low sperm quality.
One limitation of the study is that it lacked data on lifestyle habits. Additionally, detailed medical histories were only available for those who gave samples after 1987. It was also unclear whether sperm immotility was due to physical blockages or other factors.
An editorial by Professor John Aitken of the University of Newcastle called the study a “landmark.” He pointed to potential causes of the sperm-lifespan link, including genetic defects, immune issues, or exposure to pollutants. He also highlighted a key suspect: oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress occurs when damaging molecules called free radicals outweigh the body’s antioxidant defenses. This imbalance is linked to cell damage, aging, and poor semen quality.
“If oxidative stress is the root cause, it could explain both the decline in sperm health and shorter lifespans,” Aitken wrote. “Interestingly, women tend to have higher antioxidant levels and longer telomeres, which may explain their longer lifespans.”
He concluded: “Perhaps the key to fertility and healthy aging is as simple as managing oxidative stress. There’s much more to explore.”
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