Men are less self-conscious about checking out their fertility nowadays, it isn't always assumed to be a problem with the woman, and more men are seeking advice and a variety of treatments to rectify the problem. They can even check at home nowadays, with a range of Male Fertility Test kits being sold at pharmacies.

Recent studies have shown there to be a fall in men's sperm counts by about a third since the late 80's, a drop of 29%. There are many reasons for the general decline in male fertility that has been noticed across the western world over the past 3 decades. One major factor that has been suggested is an environmental one, the use of chemicals in almost every area of our lives may be having a more devastating effect than we at first imagined.

The chemical pollutants and synthetic hormones that can get into our body systems can mimic female hormones, such as Oestrogen. Oestrogens are responsible for controlling sexual development of females as well as regulating the growth and functions of sex organs. The hormone is also found in small amounts in men.

This excess of certain chemicals has been suggested as the cause of the increase in the rise of testicular cancer in adult males that is now being seen, as well as a rise in the number of male babies being born with genetic abnormalities.

Not only are we contending with environmental factors but also our modern lifestyle in general seems to be playing a role in the deterioration of male fertility. Many couples are now choosing to start a family later on in life. The average age of a man fathering a child nowadays is 32 and there are increased reports of older fathers compared to 20 and 30 years ago. New research shows that males also appear to have a biological clock ticking, their fertility begins to go into decline after the age of 40 which can result in a decreased chance of a woman conceiving.

Our occupations and general health also play a part. Our lives seem to be more hurried and stressful than ever before leading to stress, no time for healthy meals but an increased reliance on fast food can lead to weight gain and obesity, smoking, excessive drinking and drug use all has a dramatic affect on the health of male sperm and the body's ability to produce it. Whilst other aspects of modern life can have just as damaging an effect such as tight underwear and trousers, as well as any activity which increases the temperature of the groin which can slow down, damage or kill sperm levels. Activities such as cycling, saunas and jacuzzis, even driving for long periods all make a difference. Even an increased use of the essential mobile phone has been linked to being a possible cause.

Getting advice and treatment is much easier than ever before. A range of Male Fertility Test kits are available to determine the nature and severity of fertility problems experienced by men.