Unhealthy lifestyles and environmental hazards are threatening men's reproductive health,claimed medical experts on the seventh Male Reproductive Health Day.

Infertility, prostate diseases and erectile dysfunction were said to have become the main problems with men in Asia-Pacific areas.

But many men are either too shy to talk about their reproductive problems or too careless about their health, so early symptoms can be neglected and result in unnecessary suffering and often devastating consequences for individuals and families.

"Currently, about 15 per cent of theglobal burden of diseases is associated
with failures to address male reproductive health needs," said Professor Wang Yifei,from the Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University.

The renowned expert in male reproductive health made the comments during the Second Asia-Pacific Forum on Andrology held in Shanghai last week.

In China, despite an ageing population,it is still thought of as improper for older people to have sex. "Chinese always say that the years after 60 are yushou the rest life). Does it mean we can't have a sex life?" asked a local resident in his 60s, who preferred not to be named.

Erectile dysfunction is also a common problem among the ageing group, but the number of Chinese patients who seek medical treatment is comparatively much lower than that of Western countries.

Among the young population, medical experts find infertility as an increasing problem due to comprehensive factors including low quality of sperm and delayed delivery age. Around 10 to 15 per cent of Chinese couples are infertile - about 25 per cent due to the man's infertility and another 30 per cent due to reproductive problems in both the wife and husband.

Researchers say the infertility is linked with environmental elements such as poor water and food pollution, but also with excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

"The problem is more common among well-educated or elite groups. They spend longer and longer time for education and training and undertake high pressure jobs," said Professor Feng Yun, director of the ART Centre of Ruijin Hospital.

Improving their awareness of disease prevention and providing more education are seen as important ways in safeguarding male reproductive health.

"There has been a myth that male reproductive health is only with adults.However, those issues occur over the entire lifespan of men, and the care for these issues should start as early childhood," said Professor Wang.

For example, the hidden testis of a boy can possibly lead to infertility when he grows up and men are advised not to wear tight trousers or stay sitting down for long periods.

Some cities have already started addressing male's reproductive health problems. Recently, officials at the Shanghai Municipal Population and Family Planning Commission announced the city would provide more health consultations and other services for local men after the commission finished a survey focusing on men's health.

The survey showed that 80 per cent of men said their reproductive health would influence family life. More than 43 per cent of those quizzed regarded prostate diseases as their biggest concern. However,only 40 per cent of them said they would consult doctors if they had reproductive problems.