50 million couples are infertile, and the reason why will shock you.

As it’s announced that infertility is at an unprecedented high around the world, a rather unusual solution is suggested. And it could be easier for some to act on than others.

Well, look, it seems Cougars are onto something.

It turns out the reason many couples – approximately 50 million worldwide – are infertile is because many men have a low sperm count.

So, we’re being encouraged to choose YOUNGER partners. Sound good? Yes, we thought so.

Infertility has now been named as the third most common health concern, after cancer and heart disease, which is what has prompted this radical advice.

One is six Australian couples are infertile and it’s taking a heavy toll on our culture. The World Health Organisation estimates exactly 48.5 million couples around the world were still struggling to have a baby after five years. When you add in the couples who struggle to have a second child, the number rises to 168 million.

These shocking figures were revealed at the fifth congress of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction, meeting in Brisbane this week. They are looking to find new ways to help infertile couples.

First stop: male sperm count.

Australian fertility expert Dr Clare Boothroyd says many couples leave trying for a child too late in life which causes problems for the woman, but also for the man. “If a male is more than five years older than the woman he influences the infertility,” she told News Corp Australia.

So, a woman over 35 who has a partner who is five years older than her reduces her chances of falling pregnant by 30 per cent than if she was with a man the same age or younger.

“There is evidence to support the cougar — older women need younger men to reproduce,” she said.

Fertility assistance is a huge industry and many couples rely on services such as IVF to fall pregnant which is both stressful and expensive. This new advice not only shifts the focus off women, it also gives fertility experts a way to increase a couple's fertility even further.

What do you think of this new emphasis on fertility treatment? Was low sperm count a factor in your infertility? What treatment worked for you?