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Worrying Increase in Iranian Men's Contribution to Infertility

Feb 1, 2026 February 1, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

The share of male infertility in Iran has risen to 60%, attributed to pollution and radiation, raising concerns among health officials. The infertility rate among Iranian couples is reported at 20%, significantly higher than the global average. This issue affects millions of couples in Iran and has prompted the Ministry of Health to take action.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The significant rise in male infertility in Iran poses serious challenges for couples and may prompt governmental intervention.

👥 Key Players

Mehdi Akhundi MENTIONED
Head of the Ibn Sina Infertility Treatment Research Institute
"He provides insights into the rising infertility rates in Iran and the contributing factors."
Hamid Choobineh MENTIONED
Director of the Red Crescent Infertility Treatment Center
"He highlights the distribution of infertility causes between genders and the impact of environmental factors."
Mohammad Reza Norouzi MENTIONED
Secretary of the Iranian Scientific Association of Fertility and Infertility
"He discusses the potential link between electromagnetic waves and infertility, indicating broader health concerns."
Mohammad Hossein Faizi MENTIONED
Head of the Jihad University of Qazvin province
"He provides estimates on the number of infertile couples, emphasizing the scale of the issue."

📰 What Happened

The share of male infertility in Iran has increased from 40% to 60%, raising alarms among health officials. The overall infertility rate among couples in Iran is reported at 20%, significantly higher than the global average.

  • Infertility rate among Iranian couples is 20%, compared to the global average of 12-15%.
  • Three to six million couples in Iran are estimated to be infertile.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The rising infertility rates could have long-term implications for Iran's population growth and social structure, prompting the government to take action.
🌍 Regional: Increased infertility may affect regional demographics and labor markets, impacting economic stability.
🌐 International: Concerns over public health and environmental issues in Iran may draw international attention and scrutiny.

📚 Background

Infertility is a growing public health issue globally, with environmental factors increasingly recognized as contributors. In Iran, the government is under pressure to address demographic challenges.

Public health in Iran Environmental pollution and health
📡 Source: NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The information is reported by Iranian health officials and institutions, providing a credible perspective on the issue.

The head of the Ibn Sina Infertility Treatment Research Institute announced that the share of Iranian men in infertility has increased from 40% to 60% in recent years due to "pollution, radiation, and other reasons," which is a "worrying matter." According to ISNA, Mehdi Akhundi, the head of the institute, stated on Friday, August 2, that the infertility rate among Iranian couples is 20%, while the global average infertility rate is between 12% and 15%. Mr. Akhundi noted that in Iran, 40% of infertility factors are male, 40% female, 15% environmental, and 5% unknown, but the share of male factors has risen to 60% due to "pollution, radiation, and other reasons, which is a concerning statistic." Mr. Akhundi's statements come as Hamid Choobineh, the director of the Red Crescent Infertility Treatment Center, stated on June 9 that 40% of infertility cases are attributed to women, 40% to men, 10% shared, and 10% still unknown. According to Mr. Choobineh, exposure to radiation and waves is among the factors leading to infertility in Iran. Meanwhile, Mohammad Reza Norouzi, the secretary of the Iranian Scientific Association of Fertility and Infertility, mentioned in December 2014 that with the increase in electromagnetic waves from telecommunications towers and interference, an increase in infertility among citizens is "not far-fetched." According to Iranian health officials, three million couples in Iran are infertile. However, Mohammad Hossein Faizi, the head of the Jihad University of Qazvin province, stated on Friday that "even some estimates suggest that there may be six million infertile couples in the country." He added, "In some infertility treatment centers in Tehran, the cost of infertility treatment ranges from 15 to 50 million tomans, while this figure in the remote infertility treatment center in Qazvin ranges from 300 thousand to 5 million and 500 thousand tomans." The Ministry of Health has been mandated to increase the fertility rate and provide insurance coverage for infertility treatment in men and women based on the "general population policies" previously announced by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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