When Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath recently took up X, he highlighted a health issue that many Indians still hesitate to accept. He said, “An important type of health we do not talk is for sexual health, clear reasons. But the number is scary,” he wrote.

Kamath is perfect for playing the alarm. From infertility to sexual laxity, the data paints a disturbing picture. Male infertility now contributes to about half of all infertility cases in India.

One in ten male suffers from erectile dysfunction, with about 40% of cases in men under 40. In women, studies suggest that more than half of pain during intercourse experiences some forms, yet less than 30% of urban women also identify these conditions as medical issues.

This India adds high burden of untreated sexually transmitted infections, especially between the young and the migrant population, and the crisis becomes clear.

Rise of male infertility

Large studies worldwide in India have seen a steady decline in sperm concentration and total sperm count for decades.

The decline is not genetic, but is associated with lifestyle and environmental changes.

“Male factor now contributes to about 40% of joints infertility. Increased obesity, smoking, use of alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, ancestral age, infection forward, and increasing risk (EDC) for Industrial Endocrine-Destructive Chemistry (EDCs) are all drivers,” indiayatody.in.

EDCs (endocrine disintegration chemicals), phthalates such as chemicals, BPA (found in plastic), and can interfere with pesticides, hormones that control sperm production and testes growth.

At the same time, obesity and diabetic low testosterone, increases testicular temperature, and increase oxidative stress, all of which damage the quality of sperm.

Can supplements really help?

With increasing awareness, many men are turning to over-the-counter supplements marketed for fertility. But do they really work?

“There is evidence that antioxidants like COQ10, L-Carnitine, Vitamins C and E, Zinc, Selenium, and NAC can improve semen parameters, and in some studies, in the results of pregnancy,” Dr. Pallavi Prasad, Nova IVF breeding, fertility experts in Bengaluru.

However, she warns them against looking at them as a cure. “The results are mixed, and the effects size are modest. The supplements are also poorly regulated, so it is important to consult a doctor before starting them. They can help in selected cases where oxidative stress is identified, but they should be determined with realistic expectations,” she says.

Break the stigma

Perhaps the biggest obstacle, experts say that sexual health is forbidden in India. Many couples still believe that infertility is mainly a “woman’s problem”, which delays proper assessment for men.

Many male medical care, lifestyle changes and realistic treatment plan make sufficient improvement, which leads to avoiding or delayed invasive assisted reproductive technologies. Dr. Prasad says, the key is initial evaluation and open interaction.