Geographical differences in semen quality in Spain are not linked to men’s lifestyle habits
A Spanish study rules out men’s lifestyle habits as an explanation for geographical differences in semen quality. The findings, presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the abstract of which is to be published today in the journal Human Reproduction, are based on data from 386 men who attended seven assisted reproduction centres across the country between June 2024 and December 2025. They answered questions about their lifestyle habits (physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, coffee intake, etc.), their place of residence and their body mass index, amongst other factors. Semen quality was higher among men from northern Spain, even though lifestyle habits were similar across all regions, suggesting that differences in quality may be due to exposure to environmental pollutants, says the lead author.