Climate change may sound like just another in thing in the 21st century but it is a reality that affects us in so many ways. According to the World Health Organization, climate change presents a fundamental threat to human health be it physical, emotional, sexual, reproductive and mental health.
Different groups are affected by the effects of climate change differently in some instances and in this article we would like to explore how it affects men’s health.
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Knowing climate change
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate change is the change in climate (long term weather patterns) attributed to the accumulation of green house gases caused largely by human activity. Accumulation of gases like methane and carbon in the atmosphere causes a phenomenon called global warming (increase in temperatures) which then drives climate change.
According to the United Nations, climate change causes decline in biodiversity, sea level rise, intense droughts, severe storms and floods, extreme heat and severe fires.
How it affects men’s health
Climate change causes a number of challenges including rise in temperatures, cold stress, malnutrition, air pollution, increased cardiovascular diseases and respiratory tract infections, cancer and sexually transmitted infections, mental stress, and heat wave amongst others. Extreme weather events like droughts, floods, heavy winds and storms also affect health.
According to Qian et al., 2025, changes in temperature brought about by climate change cause increased male infertility. This infertility can manifest in the following ways:
Erectile dysfunction
Natural disasters or extreme weather events may take a toll on a man’s mental health by causing stress, anxiety and depression especially considering that a man is the provider and protector of his family. Some of the challenges brought about by these disasters are crop failure, death of family members, price increases and other economic changes. Once a threat to his ability to discharge these duties is detected or occurs, he may be affected mentally. These mental health conditions may cause erectile dysfunction especially if they become chronic.
Reduced sperm health
The testes are suspended in a scrotum located outside the body so as to keep the temperature 2–4 ◦C lower than that of the core body temperature and this is necessary for optimal spermatogenesis. Increase in temperature may induce abnormal sperm shape and size, low quality spermatozoa as well as a reduction in sperm production (Qian et al., 2025). Abnormally shaped sperms may cause reduced chances of conception.
Air pollution brought about by climate change(for example particulate matter generated by wildfires) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage sperm and testicular cells (Akhigbe et al., 2025).
Low sperm count and motility
According to Akhigbe et al.,2025, exposure of the scrotum to heat stress causes a decrease in sperm count and motility. Sperm count refers to the number of sperm cells in a given volume of semen whilst motility is the movement of sperms in the female reproductive system in preparation for possible fertilization. Both are important for the successful fertilization of the female egg cell and conception. This implies that if both are reduced, it results in reduced fertility in a man.
Malfunction of endocrine glands in the testes
Due to droughts and floods crops may fail completely, the produce becomes so little or may be of lower nutritional value which results in malnutrition. Malnutrition causes an impairment in the production of steroid hormones in the testicles. According to Rahma et al.,2021, malnutrition especially lack of proteins in a man’s body may cause the reduction in the production of testosterone and the Follicle-stimulating hormone which are primary male sex hormones needed for the production of sperm in the testicles.
Heat stress also causes reduced testosterone circulation .
Sexual Health Challenges
Extreme weather events that are caused by climate change often lead to destruction of homes and sources of livelihood, which further leads to involuntary migration and displacements. According to Akhigbe et al., 2025, migration and displacements pose risks to sexual health. According to Low et al., 2017, the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV is exacerbated in displaced communities.
HIV causes a reduction in testosterone levels as well as impaired sperm production (Akhigbe et al., 2025), both of which reduce fertility.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been associated with low sperm count and reduced sperm motility (Groves, 2016)
Impairment of DNA integrity
Exposure of the man to heat waves may induce DNA damage and tamper with the transmission of epigenetic information to the next generation. Damages to the DNA leads to sperm function impairment and if epigenetic information transmission is impaired, this may lead to the transfer of fertility challenges to the man’s offspring (Sales et al., 2018).
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Ways to manage
- Taking supplements like Co Q10 and vitamins to boost fertility
- Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active
- Wearing clothes that are not too tight on your groin to allow air circulation
- Limiting exposure especially of the scrotum to heat
- Managing mental health by indulging in activities that allow you to relax
- Being intentional with your diet making it more balanced and including foods rich in zinc and proteins.
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Climate change is more than an environmental issue, it is a growing public health concern with important implications for men’s sexual and reproductive wellness. Staying informed, maintaining healthy routines, and prioritizing preventive care remain some of the most effective strategies for building resilience and supporting sexual and overall well-being in a changing climate.
Sources
- Qian, J., Mo, C., Si, Y. et al. Temperature change and male infertility prevalence: an ecological study. BMC Public Health 25, 1756 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22934-7
- R. Ivell. Lifestyle impact and the biology of the human scrotum, Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. : RB Elektron. 5 (2007) 15.
- R.E. Akhigbe, P.A. Oyedokun, T.M. Akhigbe, M.A. Hamed, F.B. Fidelis, A.I. Omole, A.E. Adeogun, M.D. Akangbe, A.A. Oladipo, The consequences of climate change and male reproductive health: A review of the possible impact and mechanisms, Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, Volume 41, 2025, 101889, ISSN 2405-5808, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101889.
- A.J. Low, K. Frederix, S. McCracken, S. Manyau, E. Gummerson, E. Radin, S. Davia, H. Longwe, N. Ahmed, B. Parekh, S. Findley, A. Schwitters, Association between severe drought and HIV prevention and care behaviors in Lesotho: a population-based survey 2016-2017, PLoS Med. 16 (1) (2019) e1002727.
- M.J. Groves, Genital herpes: a review, Am. Fam. Physician 93 (2016) 928–934.
- K. Sales, R. Vasudeva, M.E. Dickinson, J.L. Godwin, A.J. Lumley, Ł. Michalczyk, L. Hebberecht, P. Thomas, A. Franco, M. Gage, Experimental heatwaves compromise sperm function and cause transgenerational damage in a model insect, Nat. Commun., 9 (1) (2018), p. 4771
- N. Rahma, W. Wurlina, S. Madyawati, B. Utomo, T. Hernawati, Safitri E. Kaliandra Honey improves testosterone levels, diameter and epithelial thickness of seminiferous tubule of white rat (Rattus norvegicus) due to malnutrition through stimulation of HSP70 Open Vet. J., 11 (3) (2021), pp. 401-406 2021
Written by:
Laura Mlambo
Medically Reviewed by:
This article was reviewed by the OhHealthWorld Editorial Review Team using credible health resources and public health guidance to ensure accuracy and clarity for readers. Information is intended to support general wellness education and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Last Updated:
16 June 2026
