Can You Make Your Sperm Better? Probably.

Exposure to chemicals may also pose a risk to sperm development. The relationship was recently raised in a New York Times column by Nick Kristoff titled, “Are Your Sperm in Trouble?” Kristof cited human and animal studies that suggest endocrine disruptors, found in plastics, cosmetics, couches, pesticides and many other products, is affecting sperm and male fertility across the globe. While admitting there is still disagreement about the scale of the problem, and that the data aren’t always reliable, Kristof advocates for more aggressive regulation of these chemicals, noting that most have never been tested for safety in US products. Kristoff’s column was disputed in Forbes by contributor Geoffrey Kabat, for among other things, reaching conclusions based on several anecdotal studies. Kabat, an epidemiologist, also suggests evidence points to other factors far more damaging than trace chemicals.