The Sicilian male, you'll be glad to know, is alive, well and raring to go, according to recent studies which have sadly proved that sperm counts in Italian men have dropped drastically since the 1970s. There are, however, great regional variations in the figures, and men in Sicily, Puglia and Tuscany seemed to have fared best. The worst results have been found in the Campania region, including Naples, where environmental factors such as the current rubbish crisis are believed to have had an impact on the situation.
I don't really know what to say here, except, mine seems to be OK.
ReplyDeleteGlad about that, Crushed!
ReplyDeleteAnd not only the Italians by the sound of it. Luckily you live in cleaner Sicily, well despite its lack of water.
ReplyDeleteapparently the environment is swilling with female hormones
ReplyDeletewhich have also made the average "hotdog" smaller since the 1300s, so some researchers said.
though how on earth they would know beats me
Have to laugh at gledwood's comment.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how the rubbish crisis has anything to do with it, but I did see a lot of rubbish as we passed through Naples.
ReplyDeleteCertainly raised my eyebrows!
ReplyDeleteGood news then welshcakes!
ReplyDeleteOnly in Italy would they publish a regional sperm count!
ReplyDeleteHi, jmb. One thing to be grateful for, agreed! What a mine of info you are, Gleds! I agree - how can they know?! Me, too, Nunyaa! Ciao, pink! Maybe so, Liz! Good point, WW...
ReplyDeleteI did read somewhere that tight trousers caused a problem too!!! Fashion and all that stuff...
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Welsh.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is a) not unique to some men in some Italian regions (to my knowledge there do exist similar studies in other countries), and b) not limited to testicle bearers (why would in-vitro fertilisation 'enjoy great popularity?), and c) garbage is 'only' one aspect.
When trying to find reasons for low/stagnating/declining birth rates particulary in 'Western countries', opinion-leaders and -makers would rather focus on aspects like contraception / abortion / selfishness /contradictoriness (?) of parenthood and profession etc. etc. ...
..., and very seldom on possible long-term-effects of what 'we' drink, eat and inhalate, on the long term consequences, of what is praised as progress.
As the matter is pretty complex and due to my impeccable English, here ends the tirade before its beginning. :)
The peace of the night.
Thank heavens for good old male sperm, Welshcakes. Is there any other kind? Some of uss need more rather then less of late. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Welshcakes,
ReplyDeleteInteresting statistics. I tend to agree with Sean. Fertility rates in animals and birds have also dropped. I recently saw a documentary on eagles. The birds were having extreme difficulty in hatching their eggs because the eggshells were so thin that when the Eagles sat on them, the eggshells would break. Scientists are blaming the polluted food the Eagles had been eating. To help save the species, their eggs were taken away and placed into incubators.
Very sad!
Lucky you Welshcakes, no wonder you have a lovely smile, and the women must be happy too.
ReplyDeleteHi, cherrypie. I suppose they would, really! Hi, Sean.
ReplyDeleteWhat you say is very interesting and I'm sure you are right.
Careful, James - too much can make your eyes go funny, I've heard!
Ardent, I agree. How very sad about the magnificent eagles.
Thanks, Ellee. Perhaps that's why the women do smile here!
This might be a good thing for Italian men.
ReplyDeleteAt least, some of them.
Hi, Ruthie. Indeed it might!
ReplyDelete