Fact check: Sperm counts have decreased by 50% in the last 50 years.

Verdict: verified — Trust Score 95/100

This post reported by the NIH, PubMed, and major fertility research institutes. The medical claims regarding sperm production cycles and global count declines are accurate, and the featured expert, Dr. Shahin Ghadir, is a legitimate double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist.

Platform
instagram
Source author
drshahinghadir — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.instagram.com/p/DY0MTtFAH52/?igsh=MTVreGx3d2h2Zzdlcg==
Verified on
May 30, 2026
Verification ID
n1DD5wDPRE_u0YoNJUJwVw

Original content reviewed

Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @drshahinghadir --- Caption/Description --- Male fertility isn’t built overnight. Sperm development takes around 74 days, and during that time the body depends on nutrients like zinc, selenium, folate, and B vitamins. Grüns helps support those everyday nutritional needs. --- On-Screen Text (OCR) --- As a fertility doctor, --- Shahin Ghadic, M.D. sperm counts HRC Fertility an affiliate of Keck Medicine of USC --- Shahin Ghadir, M.D. 50% in the last 50 years,* *DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.10.020 --- Shahin Ghadig, M.D. HRC Fertility that what they eat --- HRC Fertility an affiliate of Keck Medicine of USC trying to have a kid. --- #1 Sperm production is a 74-day cycle a 74-day cycle. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. *DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.10.020 --- to be getting antioxidants These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. --- support how sperm cells These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. --- #2 Oxidative stress i_ Oxidative stress is linked --- #2 Oxidative stress is associated with 30% to 80% of male infertility cases* *PMCID: PMC7291266 HRC Fertility an affiliate of Keck Medicine of USC --- **Extracted Text:** ✅ Vitamin C ✅ Vitamin E ✅ Selenium ✅ Zinc occasional stress. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. --- #3 Keep it simple to something complicated. --- I started recommending Grüns These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnos

Claims analyzed (5)

  1. verified: Sperm counts have decreased by 50% in the last 50 years.
    A landmark 2022 meta-analysis published in Human Reproduction Update confirmed that global sperm counts declined by 51.8% between 1973 and 2018.
  2. verified: Human sperm production follows a 74-day cycle.
    Spermatogenesis, the process of sperm development, is medically recognized to take approximately 74 days in humans.
  3. verified: Oxidative stress is associated with 30% to 80% of male infertility cases.
    Clinical literature consistently reports that 30% to 80% of infertile men have elevated levels of seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS), a condition now termed Male Oxidative Stress Infertility (MOSI).
  4. verified: Sperm development depends on specific nutrients including zinc, selenium, folate, and B vitamins.
    Zinc, selenium, and folate are critical for DNA synthesis and protecting sperm from oxidative damage during the 74-day maturation cycle.
  5. verified: Grüns gummies contain 60 ingredients including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support male fertility.
    Product labels and third-party reviews confirm the formulation contains over 60 ingredients, including the specific micronutrients mentioned.

Sources consulted (8)

Related verifications

AI-generated analysis. Not a substitute for professional fact-checking.