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lot of children, while the guy with
weak sperm doesn’t reproduce. That might sound like we’d lose a lot of Einsteins
and gain a lot of action heroes, but we shouldn’t equate rough-and-ready sperm
with rough-and-ready physiques.”
    A few chuckles greeted this remark. Well, Cole had never
claimed to be a stand-up comic.
    “Sad to say, the use of anabolic steroids to increase muscle
mass and improve athletic ability is widespread. These steroids may be male
hormones, but ironically, they suppress a man’s ability to manufacture
testosterone. Some of the side effects can persist across one’s lifetime,” he
added.
    “Our personal medical histories and lifestyles also affect
fertility.” Among the harmful factors, Cole listed infections, smoking, obesity,
poor diet, too much or too little exercise, illegal drugs, and both prescription
and over-the-counter medications.
    Okay, he’d scared them enough. “On the plus side, many of the
conditions killing or impeding sperm can be fixed. Sometimes weight loss,
improved diet, vitamin supplements and a healthier lifestyle will do the trick.
Other times, surgery or advanced fertility techniques can help a man to father
children.”
    He described some of the newer treatments, and concluded,
“There’s research under way that may allow even men with no sperm to become
fathers by using their stem cells. So far, it’s only been tested on mice, but
then, it’s a mere thirty-five years since the first test tube baby was born, and
more than four million infants have been born in vitro since then. Yesterday’s
miracle is today’s standard course of treatment.”
    Cole expected the usual smattering of applause. Instead, a
swell swept through the auditorium as the listeners rose to their feet. What had
he said? He’d just reiterated facts known by everyone in his profession.
    Finally, the ovation ebbed and people sat down. “Any
questions?” Cole asked.
    Hands flew up. He pointed to a husky fellow in the center.
    “This was interesting, but when a couple can’t have a baby,
isn’t that mainly the wife’s problem?”
    A woman in the audience hissed. Cole figured she’d like his
response. “Quite the opposite. In about sixty percent of infertility cases, the
man’s condition is involved. Twenty percent involve both the man and the woman,
and forty percent are mostly him. Since running a sperm analysis is relatively
simple, that should be one of the first tests to consider.”
    More hands went up. Before Cole could choose from among them, a
tall man with abundant wavy hair shouted from near the cameras, “So are you
saying there’s a danger of the human race fading away?”
    Normally, Cole would have laughed off such a ridiculous
question, but he knew enough not to dismiss the press. “Well, if we relied on
technology to reproduce for a few millennia, and then an asteroid knocked us
back to the Stone Age without modern medicine, we could be in trouble.” He had
to smile at such an unlikely scenario. “But—”
    “So you’re saying we may be evolving into a species unable to
survive without doctors?” interrupted a heavily made-up woman in a power
suit.
    Cole decided to provide a bit of perspective. “In a similar
vein, one could argue that vaccines and antibiotics interfere with our
developing genetic immunities. Should we let millions of people die from
treatable or preventable diseases, and let the survivors and a few naturally
immune individuals repopulate the planet?”
    Jennifer scooted to the microphone, which Cole gladly
relinquished. “I see we have a lot of questions.” Deftly, she began calling on
ordinary folks who wanted to know about testing, surgery and outcomes.
    Fifteen minutes later, although there were still hands waving,
Jennifer apologetically ended the session. “I’m afraid we can’t get to everyone.
If you’ll email your questions to the public relations office, I’ll forward them
to Dr. Rattigan. Thank you all for coming.”
    “I