Cancer and Sperm Count Linked — San Mateo County Diagnoses High

Infertility is a condition most often associated with women, but about four million men also carry the affliction in the United States.

Not only does infertility make reproduction impossible, but a new study by the Stanford University School of Medicine shows a strong possible linkage between lower sperm count and cancer diagnoses. 

According to EverydayHealth.com, infertile men "may be nearly two-times more likely to develop cancer than the general population."

Results of the Stanford study show that infertile men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than fertile men. Furthermore, azoospermic men (men who produce no sperm at all) are 2.9 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than men with other infertility causes. 

The connection between infertility and cancer is not proven by the Stanford results, but it is strongly suggested. EverydayHealth.com reports that the cancers possibly resulting from infertility are varied and include "brain, prostate, and stomach tumors, in addition to melanoma, lymphoma, testicular cancer, and cancer of the small intestine."

The average sperm count is a debated issue. Some publications call anywhere from 20-150 million sperm per milliliter normal. A 1996 article in Adult Urology found an average of 112.1 million/ml. 

The same article took a sample of sperm counts from men from six different states, including California, and found a large variation in sperm count from state to state. The men from California were found to have an average sperm count of 72.7 million/ml compared to 66 million/ml in Texas, 99.99 million/ml in New York, 48 million/ml in Iowa, 100.8 million/ml in Minnesota and 110 million/ml in Washington. The sample sizes varied greatly from state to state. 

Using those numbers and the results of the Stanford study, it would be possible to find a higher men's cancer diagnosis rate in the states with lower sperm counts. In other words, Iowa should have the highest men's cancer rate and Washington should have the lowest. However, that is not the case. 

According to the National Cancer Institute's State Cancer Profiles, California men averaged 502.7 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 people per year from 2005-2009. That is lower than the cancer diagnosis numbers from each of the other five states surveyed for sperm count. See the graphic above for a full comparison of sperm count to cancer diagnoses.

In San Mateo, the diagnosis numbers were higher than the state average 513.4 per 100,000 people per year. Neighboring Santa Clara County was much lower (484) and Santa Cruz County (539.2) was significantly higher.

Home sperm count tests can be bought online. Click here to check out a selection. Urologists can also perform a sperm count test test. For a list of urologists in and close to Redwood City, click here.