The study researchers can not pinpoint the exact reasons for their results, but they do believe it may have something to do with hormones, pesticides or other chemicals that are in the beef. They speculate that these byproducts may be affecting the testes of the developing fetus within the mother's womb.
Doctors advise pregnant women should not cut out beef consumption from their diet due to this latest research news. Women need their protein. However, protein can be consumed through organic beef, hormone-free beef or though other foods as well.
Hormones, although regulated in acceptable levels in meat products in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration are present in basically all but the organic beef products or those indicated by labeling. On the other hand, Europe banned hormones from their food products ever since 1988, according to HealthDay News.
The sperm counts as conducted by this study were not affected by other types of meat, fish or poultry.
The research team from this study plans to conduct the same test for sperm counts on men born in Europe after 1988, when the hormones were banned from their food supplies.
According to Swan, "If we did the same study, and there was an association, it couldn't be due to the hormones, because there aren't any [in Europe after 1988]," however, "... if we do not see an association, that would actually point to the hormones. That's our plan."
