She provided statistics from the WHO illustrating this trend: in 1980, the threshold for male reproductive health was 80 million sperm per milliliter. By the 1990s, it had decreased to 40 million, and now the minimum norm is only 20 million. This means that over a few decades, sperm levels have decreased fourfold, and if it drops to 10 million, the likelihood of infertility significantly increases," Chirkina explained.
Speaking about reproductive health, the expert noted that this refers only to healthy sperm that do not have structural and functional deviations.
Chirkina also raised the issue of sexual and reproductive education for boys, noting that it often receives less attention than that for girls. There is a misconception that boys "intuitively" understand how to take care of their health and build intimate relationships.
Every year in May, Men's Health Week is held in Kyrgyzstan, organized by the National Urology Center. During this time, men can undergo free examinations. At one such event, 1,372 men were examined, and almost 10% of them were found to have various pathologies.
Additionally, data from a youth-oriented clinic show that out of 929 examined young people, 622 were diagnosed with urethritis, 139 with orchitis, 74 with phimosis, and 94 with varicocele. "These are young and active students," she noted.
Chirkina also listed other problems faced by young people, including hydrocele of the testicular membranes, cryptorchidism, scrotal pain, and hormonal disorders. Varicocele, which is common among 15-20% of young men aged 12 to 25, requires medical intervention as it can lead to infertility. "40% of men with infertility have varicocele," she added.
Cryptorchidism, or undescended testicle, is also a serious issue that can lead to infertility if not diagnosed and corrected in a timely manner.
According to the expert, the absence of a testicle in the scrotum is observed in 2-4% of full-term, 15-30% of premature newborns, and 1% of boys under one year old.
Although less common, hydrocele of the testicular membranes can also lead to infertility in men.
"It is necessary to create a culture of consulting specialists and to explain from childhood how the male reproductive system functions. We must speak openly about men's health. Unfortunately, this topic is currently not discussed enough, and it needs to be addressed more actively and professionally to prevent diseases rather than fight their consequences," Chirkina concluded.
Photo on the main page is illustrative: istockphoto.com.
