The global medical and scientific community has been discussing shocking data over the last few days. The authoritative British publication, The Guardian, published an article stating that average testosterone levels in men have halved over the past 50 years. A study presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in London showed that between 1972 and 2019, the overall testosterone rate in men decreased by 54%. This means the decline is more than 1% annually, which cannot be a statistical error—it is a global and alarming trend.
To understand what is truly happening, what invisible enemies are attacking the male body, and how we can protect ourselves, we turned to Dr. Lado Jishiashvili, a clinical urologist at the Georgian-German Reproductive Center.
— Dr. Lado, what does a 54% drop in testosterone mean, and how reliable is this data?
— As a practicing andrologist and urologist, I see this problem in my office every day. From a scientific standpoint, this data is very solid. Researchers, led by Professor Hagai Levine, analyzed data from more than 118,000 men across various countries. What is most concerning is that the rate of decline has accelerated even further since 2000.
Testosterone is the primary metabolic engine of the male body. Such a dramatic drop means that a 30-year-old man today has significantly less testosterone than his grandfather had at the same age. This directly impacts reduced fertility, deteriorating sperm quality, erectile dysfunction, and the psycho-emotional state.
— Aside from obesity and environmental factors, what else do scientists attribute this trend to? Is it also the fault of the rhythm of modern life?
— Absolutely. When I was reviewing this study, it became clear to me as a doctor that the picture would be incomplete without chronic, daily stress. In the modern world, stress is no longer an emergency; it has become our daily routine, a sort of background mode. Information overload, financial instability, and a constant race against time—all of this keeps the male body in survival mode.
At the biological level, a severe antagonism comes into play: when a man is under chronic stress, his adrenal glands produce large amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortilsole and testosterone stand on opposite sides of a balance scale: the higher the background cortisol, the lower testosterone drops. Evolutionarily, the body thinks that if a man is “in danger” (even if that danger is just traffic jams or work deadlines), now is not the time for reproduction and high energy. This is a real hormonal time bomb.
— What else is meant by environmental factors that contribute to this drop?
— We are talking about so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These are chemical substances found in plastics, household cleaning products, and food packaging that block the natural synthesis of testosterone. Global warming and a sedentary lifestyle are also mentioned, which cause overheating of the pelvic cavity and testicles, directly suppressing fundamental male functions.
— Testosterone therapy has become very popular lately. Many young people are starting to take hormones on their own. What would you tell them?
— This is my greatest pain as a doctor. I warn you: this is a huge mistake! Exogenous (externally introduced) artificial testosterone signals the brain that there is enough of the hormone, causing the body to completely shut down its own production of testosterone and sperm. As a result, we get testicular atrophy and irreversible infertility. Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed only under strict medical indications.
— How should we fight this global trend on an individual level? What is your recommendation?
— Before anything changes at the state level, each man must take steps toward prevention himself. Here are my main recommendations:
* Stress Management (Lowering Cortisol): Learn to “switch off” after work. Find a hobby that relaxes the brain, and reduce social media use before bed. Managing stress is the direct survival of your testosterone.
* Healthy Sleep: The main peak of testosterone is produced during the deep sleep phase at night. If you sleep poorly due to stress, the hormone cannot recover.
* Weight and Diet Control: Reduce simple carbohydrates and sugar. Excess fat converts testosterone into the female hormone (estrogen).
* Physical Activity: Resistance training (with weights) is the best way to both relieve stress and stimulate hormones.
* Reducing Chemical Load: Avoid consuming hot food from plastic containers as much as possible.
Men’s health and hormonal balance are not just matters of personal comfort; they are a question of our demography and our future. Do not wait for a crisis—act today.