{"id":40529,"date":"2024-04-26T09:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T09:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.givelegacy.com\/?p=40529"},"modified":"2024-05-07T15:07:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T15:07:00","slug":"the-united-states-of-sperm-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/the-united-states-of-sperm-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"The United States of sperm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In biology class, we\u2019re taught that sperm is an endlessly renewable natural resource, relentlessly produced in the millions, providing redundancy upon redundancy. After puberty, it\u2019s just there<\/em>, ready when you need it, no worries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, scientists are worried. Worldwide, the average sperm count has dropped 50% in the last 50 years. Sperm health can no longer be taken for granted. The body\u2019s original auto-renew subscription can be affected by almost every variable of everyday life, from diet and exercise to chemical exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that can be affected by where you live. Let\u2019s dive into Legacy\u2019s data to see how sperm health might vary across state lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How we ranked the states<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our team analyzed data from over 22,000 semen samples tested by Legacy\u2019s labs, the largest dataset of its kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legacy\u2019s clinic-grade sperm testing evaluates all industry-standard metrics of sperm health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our team ranked each state by sperm concentration, the number of sperm per milliliter of semen. Normal sperm concentration ranges from 15 million to more than 200 million sperm per milliliter. A low sperm count is defined as fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this ranking, we\u2019ve included fertile and infertile men and trans women from the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC \u2014 all areas served by Legacy\u2019s mail-in semen analysis kits. We excluded men who\u2019d had a vasectomy, as their sperm concentration was likely to be zero (or close to zero).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Best and worst sperm concentration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

5 states with the highest sperm concentration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Wyoming<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Idaho<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Montana<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Iowa<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Washington, D.C.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    5 states with the lowest sperm concentration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Mississippi<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. South Carolina<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Oklahoma<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. North Dakota<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Delaware<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      The best and worst sperm in the US, by state<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #49: Worst sperm in the United States: Mississippi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>25.7 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Mississippi\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Mike Beaumont\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #48: South Carolina<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 28.9 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"South<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Leo Heisenberg\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n

      \n\n

      #47: Oklahoma<\/h3>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 29.1 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Oklahoma<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Zbynek Burival\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #46: North Dakota<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 30.2 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"North<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Jason Rojas\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #45: Delaware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>30.7 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Delaware<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Gary Cole\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #44: West Virginia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>30.98 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"West<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Sharosh Rajasekher\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #43: Tennessee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>31 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Tennessee<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Nathan Kosmak\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #42: Utah<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>32.3 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Utah<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Andrey Grinkevich\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #41: Alabama<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 32.9 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Alabama\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Nathan Anderson\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #40: Kentucky<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>33.5 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Barn<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Amy Reed\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #39: Connecticut<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 34.3 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Connecticut\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Rusty Watson\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #38: Wisconsin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 34.5 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Wisconsin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Caroline Gunderson\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #37: Arizona<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 34.7 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Arizona<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Kaileen Fitzpatrick\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #36: Kansas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 35.13 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"sunflower<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Laura Gilchrist\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #35: Florida<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>35.15 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Florida\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Denys Kostyuchenko\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #34: Indiana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 35.2 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Indiana\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Steven Van Elk\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #33: Maine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 35.81 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Maine<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Mercedes Mehling\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      #32: Arkansas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>35.82 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Arkansas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Oliver Graham\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #31: Rhode Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>35.95 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Rhode<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Michael Denning\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #30: Texas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 36 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Texas\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Courtney Rose\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #29: Louisiana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 36.2 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Louisiana\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Kristina Volgenau\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #28: Michigan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 36.46 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Michigan\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Dan Gomer\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #27: New Mexico<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 36.5 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"New<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Chase McBride\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #26: Nevada<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 36.65 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Nevada\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Grant Cai\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #25: Nebraska<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 36.66 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Nebraska\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Balazs Busznyak\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #24: Colorado<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 36.8 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Colorado\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Sam Dellaporta\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #23: Missouri<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 37 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n
      \n\n
      \"Missouri\"<\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

      Brittney Butler\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #22: Virginia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 37.2 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Virginia\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Stephen Poore\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #21: Massachusetts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 37.6 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Boston<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Leo Heisenberg\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #20: New Hampshire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 38 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"New<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Rafael Rodrigues\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #19: California<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 38.3 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"California\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Joonyeop Baek\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #18: Georgia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 38.7 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Georgia\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Ian Baldwin\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #17: New York<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 39.1 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"New<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Thomas Habr\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #16: Ohio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 39.4 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Ohio\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Jake Blucker\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #15: Oregon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 39.6 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Oregon\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Cedric Letsch\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #14: North Carolina<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>39.7 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"North<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Daniel Weiss\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #13: New Jersey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 39.9 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"New<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Kealan Burke\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #12: Washington<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 40.17 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Washington<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Stephen Plopper\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #11: South Dakota<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 40.18 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"South<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Sophia Simoes\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #10: Pennsylvania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>40.22 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Pennsylvania\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Yuhan Du\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #9: Illinois<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 41 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Illinois\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Nikhil Mistry\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #8: Maryland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration:<\/strong> 41 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Maryland<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Kat Keeling\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #7: Vermont<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>45.2 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Vermont\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Peter James Eisenhaure\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #6: Minnesota<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: <\/strong>45.4 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Minnesota\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Lee Vue\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #5: Washington, DC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: 49.1 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Washington,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Andy Feliciotti\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #4: Iowa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: 51.3 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Iowa\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Joel Drzycimski\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #3: Montana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: 54.4 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Montana\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      John Kakuk\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #2: Idaho<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: 55.6 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Idaho\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Abigail Loney\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      #1 best sperm in the United States: Wyoming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Average sperm concentration: 56.8 million\/mL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Wyoming\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Karsten Winegeart\/Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Why did the states rank this way?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Although we can\u2019t reach definitive conclusions from this analysis, decades of scientific research suggest that a person\u2019s environment and lifestyle can affect their sperm health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In fact, scientists believe the worldwide decline in sperm count has been primarily caused by widespread exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These toxic agents \u2014 present in thousands of common household items including soap, shampoo, detergents, packaging, home furnishings, and clothing \u2014 mimic hormones and seem to inhibit testosterone and sperm production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Other environmental factors linked to sperm health include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n