As the media response to reported drops in sperm count will illustrate, male sperm count, despite its questionable relationship to male fertility, is still considered a primary sign of one's manhood; consequently, low sperm counts typically carry with them stigmas of "unmanliness." As a result, it is not always easy to find willing donors to study. Male participants are subject to a level of sexual surveillance not typically experienced by men: They are asked to refrain from ejaculation at least two days before producing a specimen and may be asked for an "ejaculation calendar" (because sexual frequency may have an effect on sperm levels). They may be asked about alcohol, cigarette, or drug use or be monitored for such use during study period. As a result, sperm count studies are typically not drawn from the general population but from some men who have some other motivation for participating (sperm donors, couples at fertility clinics, or men working at toxic environment) or from men already under state surveillance (in prison or in the military).

Cynthis R. Daniels. 2006. Exposing Men: The Science and Politics of Male Reproduction. Oxford University Press