I have secondary hypogonadism and was diagnosed with it before turning 30, let alone 50 or later. It was a real struggle to get any doctors to listen to me. I had to go through several GPs to even...
I have secondary hypogonadism and was diagnosed with it before turning 30, let alone 50 or later. It was a real struggle to get any doctors to listen to me. I had to go through several GPs to even get a referral to a urologist (no endocrinologists would see me) to get a test ordered to check my testosterone levels. I was simply "too young" to possibly suffer from this.
I spoke at length with my urologist about this, and he told me that this has been increasingly a problem. Not only is secondary hypogonadism rates increasing at an alarming rate, but fertility problems, especially among younger males, are on the rise.
This is a problem that large swathes of the medical community are not even aware is going on. It's cropped up in the last 10-20 years, but medical literature moves forward at a snail's pace. I honestly think it's going to become a huge medical problem within the next 20-30 years, as the general practitioners are still unaware of it being a problem, meaning that it's not going to be pushed or prioritized through research, delaying policy by another decade or more.
There's a point near the end of the article that the author makes that I think is amazing, though his disdain of "Oh no, poor men" kind of put me off. This is a good thing! If men really do become...
There's a point near the end of the article that the author makes that I think is amazing, though his disdain of "Oh no, poor men" kind of put me off.
A new technology known as IVG—in vitro gametogenesis—is showing early promise at turning embryonic stem cells into sperm. In 2016, Japanese scientists created baby mice by fertilizing normal mouse eggs with sperm created via IVG. The stem cells in question were taken from female mice.
This is a good thing! If men really do become completely infertile, they can still have babies. If a same sex female couple wants kids, they can do it. I wonder if these technologies will start to become more subsidized or covered by insurance/gov/have a decrease in price for necessity as the population decreases, or if we'll continue into "only the rich will have children". In a similar vein...
[[Fertility treatments are]] so expensive that having children may no longer be an option available to all couples.
Children in general really aren't an option to a good sized portion of people. They're just so expensive...
Though I have to say, comments like these below made it kind of difficult to read this at times. You can present the information without saying "Woe are us men".
Though I have to say, comments like these below made it kind of difficult to read this at times.
Men are doomed. Everybody knows this. We're obviously all doomed, the women too, everybody in general, just a waiting game until one or another of the stupid things our stupid species is up to finally gets us. But as it turns out, no surprise: men first.
Now it seems that early death isn't enough for us [[men]]—we're on track instead to void the species entirely.
Men will continue to be essential to the survival of the species. The problem with innovation, though, is that it never stops.
The stem cells in question were taken from female mice. There was no need for any males.
You can present the information without saying "Woe are us men".
Both, probably. It would depend on the country you're in. One scenario is more likely in affluent European countries, while the other is more likely in countries like the U.S.
if these technologies will start to become more subsidized or covered by insurance/gov/have a decrease in price for necessity as the population decreases, or if we'll continue into "only the rich will have children". In a similar vein
Both, probably. It would depend on the country you're in. One scenario is more likely in affluent European countries, while the other is more likely in countries like the U.S.
If the demand is high, costs will most likely primarily be driven down by a race to improve technology. Honestly I'm not too worried about humans dying off. The loss of males (y chromosome has...
I wonder if these technologies will start to become more subsidized or covered by insurance/gov/have a decrease in price for necessity as the population decreases
If the demand is high, costs will most likely primarily be driven down by a race to improve technology.
Honestly I'm not too worried about humans dying off. The loss of males (y chromosome has slowly been deteriorating) is a real possibility however, without some gene editing or other technological fixes.
The cynical science fiction side of me anticipates that something like thalidomide or Round-Up will be touted as the fix for this problem by certain industries. Sarcasm aside, we could easily see...
The cynical science fiction side of me anticipates that something like thalidomide or Round-Up will be touted as the fix for this problem by certain industries. Sarcasm aside, we could easily see the accessibility for in vitro decrease as politics get its hands into the problem. And based on the possibility of epigenetics accelerating the problem, those desirous of population control might someday be in the situation of having too much of a good thing.
Going slightly off-topic from the acceptance of new technology by religious sects. It reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale, but with the interesting difference that men - not women - are the ones...
Going slightly off-topic from the acceptance of new technology by religious sects.
It will be interesting to see how religious sects tackle the issue.
It reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale, but with the interesting difference that men - not women - are the ones suffering from infertility.
Men don't have to be kept in place for nine months in order to procure their offspring, so enslavement such as the unfortunate handmaids are subjected to won't be 'necessary'.
What I've read about the Catholic Church's current view on IVF childbirth is complex, and the varying opinions are all over the place. I think it's very possible that those views will change with...
What I've read about the Catholic Church's current view on IVF childbirth is complex, and the varying opinions are all over the place. I think it's very possible that those views will change with changed circumstances. Like I mentioned, science fiction can and has created many scenarios for what may happen in the face of decreasing population. Until we get there, I think it remains theoretical.
I have secondary hypogonadism and was diagnosed with it before turning 30, let alone 50 or later. It was a real struggle to get any doctors to listen to me. I had to go through several GPs to even get a referral to a urologist (no endocrinologists would see me) to get a test ordered to check my testosterone levels. I was simply "too young" to possibly suffer from this.
I spoke at length with my urologist about this, and he told me that this has been increasingly a problem. Not only is secondary hypogonadism rates increasing at an alarming rate, but fertility problems, especially among younger males, are on the rise.
This is a problem that large swathes of the medical community are not even aware is going on. It's cropped up in the last 10-20 years, but medical literature moves forward at a snail's pace. I honestly think it's going to become a huge medical problem within the next 20-30 years, as the general practitioners are still unaware of it being a problem, meaning that it's not going to be pushed or prioritized through research, delaying policy by another decade or more.
There's a point near the end of the article that the author makes that I think is amazing, though his disdain of "Oh no, poor men" kind of put me off.
This is a good thing! If men really do become completely infertile, they can still have babies. If a same sex female couple wants kids, they can do it. I wonder if these technologies will start to become more subsidized or covered by insurance/gov/have a decrease in price for necessity as the population decreases, or if we'll continue into "only the rich will have children". In a similar vein...
Children in general really aren't an option to a good sized portion of people. They're just so expensive...
Though I have to say, comments like these below made it kind of difficult to read this at times.
You can present the information without saying "Woe are us men".
Both, probably. It would depend on the country you're in. One scenario is more likely in affluent European countries, while the other is more likely in countries like the U.S.
If the demand is high, costs will most likely primarily be driven down by a race to improve technology.
Honestly I'm not too worried about humans dying off. The loss of males (y chromosome has slowly been deteriorating) is a real possibility however, without some gene editing or other technological fixes.
The cynical science fiction side of me anticipates that something like thalidomide or Round-Up will be touted as the fix for this problem by certain industries. Sarcasm aside, we could easily see the accessibility for in vitro decrease as politics get its hands into the problem. And based on the possibility of epigenetics accelerating the problem, those desirous of population control might someday be in the situation of having too much of a good thing.
Going slightly off-topic from the acceptance of new technology by religious sects.
It reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale, but with the interesting difference that men - not women - are the ones suffering from infertility.
Men don't have to be kept in place for nine months in order to procure their offspring, so enslavement such as the unfortunate handmaids are subjected to won't be 'necessary'.
It's been a while since I read the book, but I thought the men were infertile, just that it's was something nobody said out loud.
I'm only familiar with the tv adaptation. In the show both sexes seem to suffer from infertility, but fertile men are more common than fertile women.
What I've read about the Catholic Church's current view on IVF childbirth is complex, and the varying opinions are all over the place. I think it's very possible that those views will change with changed circumstances. Like I mentioned, science fiction can and has created many scenarios for what may happen in the face of decreasing population. Until we get there, I think it remains theoretical.
This seems vaugely reminiscent of "Seventy Two letters" by Ted Chiang.
I wonder how much this has contributed to the declining growth in global population.
That's what happens when you lock males in office cubicles instead of lettings them throwing stones to each other on battle fields. /s