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A study released recently says that male sperm count has declined by 50 percent since 1973. It’s not the first time we’ve been worried about this issue, in 1992 the now contentious ‘Carlsen’ study also suggested a plunging sperm count.

But previous studies have made similar claims and turned out to have questionable methodology. Is the new study more reliable? (Yes.) Previous critics claim it has addressed many of the problems faced by previous studies.

And how much of a problem is falling sperm count?

We speak with Prof Allan Pacey of Sheffield University, Dr Hagai Levine from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem and Dr Tina Jensen of Syddansk University, Denmark.

(Image: A father with his daughter at breakfast time. Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)