Let's Talk About Sperm

If your husband/boyfriend/
son/best friend/self is contemplating daddyhood, tell him to check his bathroom cabinet first.

Sperm density, motility and quality are in danger of being reduced by phthalates, a family of chemicals common in personal care products (especially anything containing “fragrance”) and plastics. Research has shown that between 1938 and 1990, sperm density in U.S. males declined approximately 1.5 percent per year. A 2003 study found that men with higher levels of phthalates in their urine had fewer sperm than average, and that the little fellas were more likely to be deformed, therefore bad swimmers...and therefore less likely to fertilize an egg.

The levels of phthalates these men had in their bodies are not abnormal - they are well within the levels reported for the general U.S. population. 

These studies and dozens more indicate that phthalates can cause serious reproductive issues. So what are these chemicals doing in cologne and scented aftershave, not to mention nail polish used by pregnant women?

Well, for starters, the U.S. government is doing next to nothing to protect consumers from exposure to dangerous chemicals in personal care products. The FDA does not require any safety testing of cosmetics products before they hit the shelves, and allows the toiletries industry itself determine that chemical ingredients are safe.

Even the label-conscious shoppers among us would have trouble eliminating phthalates from our personal care regimen because these chemicals often do not appear on product labels.

So whether you’ve got fertility on the mind or you’re thinking about buying your sweetie some aftershave, be mindful of the fragile state of sperm health. Sign yourself up for Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Action Alerts so you can be informed and take action to persuade the government and cosmetics companies to make safer products.