Ministers to investigate stress and alcohol link to low sperm counts

A decline in male fertility has prompted the Government to investigate whether exposure to household chemicals, alcohol consumption or stress has played a role. Other factors being studied are computer use, vegetarian diets and the consumption of recycled tap water.

The Government is spending £1.8m on four studies investigating "trends in male reproductive health", which ministers hope will give "extensive information on semen quality" in British men.

Studies around the world have found that average sperm counts have dropped by more than half in the past 50 years and are continuing to fall by 2 per cent a year.

Ministers are worried that the decline is leading to serious fertility problems that are increasing the demand for IVF treatment in Britain.

The research will be assessed this month by the Health minister Hazel Blears and the Environment minister Michael Meacher.

Experts at Imperial College, London are studying the effect of "occupational and household" chemicals on the health of sperm and the use of the Pill during pregnancy on the foetus. They are also looking at whether drinking recycled tap water, which may contain traces of female hormones from the Pill, has damaged the health of semen.

The studies are investigating the effect of vegetarianism and whether eating soya boosts oestrogen levels in men. Smoking, drinking and the birth order of men with poor fertility is being assessed. The scientists have asked men whether their mothers took recreational drugs, prescribed medication or the Pill during pregnancy.