Taking care of men’s fertility is as important as women’s, as both genders play a significant role in conceiving and developing babies. We have found 5 things that can harm a man’s fertility, and you should be careful.
- Tobacco Smoking
There is no doubt that smoking is bad for your health. What you probably don’t know is that tobacco smoking can negatively affect your fertility. Cigarettes have toxins which when inhaled they get into your lungs and get into the bloodstream.
From there they are transported to various parts of the body including your reproductive organs where they can do much harm. A 2016 study published in the journal of European Urology indicates that smoking affects semen health.
According to the analysis from the study, tobacco smoking can lead to decreased sperm motility, sperm count, and poor sperm morphology.
The negative impact of smoking goes beyond affecting the quality of semen and sperm. It also reduces sperm concentration in semen and harms sperm DNA.
According to the study mentioned above, men who smoke had a 23% decrease in sperm concentration compared to non-smokers. However, poor quality semen doesn’t always lead to infertility.
The heavy metals found in cigarettes are to blame. Smoking is likely to expose you to high levels of metals such as lead and cadmium which have been previously linked to decreased fertility.
The good news is that most of the effects caused by tobacco smoking on male fertility are reversible. Quitting the habit can increase your chances of being fertile but it may take some time.
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption
The relationship between consumption of alcohol and fertility has always been focused on women. However, drinking has negative effects on male fertility as well.
The truth is that even moderate alcohol consumption can lead to reduced libido and fertility in both genders. Different studies indicate that binge drinking can harm sperm.
One such study published by the National Institutes of Health, reveals that mixing different drinks on a weekly basis can lower your testosterone levels and reduce sperm count.
The report titled “Alcohol and the Male Reproductive System,” mentions that alcohol disrupts the tests structure and function. Alcohol has a negative effects on tests secretion such as testicular opiods, nitric oxide‘s action on vasodilation, and acceleration of cell oxidation.
Alcohol also damages cells (both in the brain, and penis), a process which increases the secretion of inflammation-promoting cytokines.
Besides lowering testosterone levels, heavy drinking can also diminish the levels of other hormones including luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. These hormones are critical in reproduction and male fertility and tempering with then can severely affect your reproductive health.
Increased alcohol consumption can also raise the level of estrogen thereby reducing sperm production. Heavy drinking is also known to shrink the testes leading to impotence.
Other negative effects of alcohol on male fertility include premature or decreased ejaculation and altering the size, shape, and movement of sperms.
Alcohol abuse also affects your hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. This is the male reproductive system and consists of the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, and testes.
Heavy drinking is also believed to alter the release of gonadotropin which has a direct impact on the quality and quantity of sperm production.
- Drug and Substance Abuse
Drug and substance abuse can affect your sexual and reproductive health in many different ways. First, drugs can damage your blood vessels, disrupt regular functioning of different hormones including reproductive hormones such as testosterone.
Drugs can also lead to erectile dysfunction. For instance, marijuana abuse in young men delays the onset of puberty. Marijuana is also believed to reduce the level of testosterone which leads to low sperm count.
Chronic abuse of marijuana for a very long time can affect the size and shape of testes causing infertility. It also alters the shape of sperms and curtails their movement.
Drugs such as opioids can lead to hypogonadism, which simply refers to a problem with the testes. Opioids have also been linked to low sperm count and hormone imbalance making them one of the riskiest drugs that can severely impact your sexual health.
Other commonly abused drugs that are harmful to your reproductive health include cocaine and methamphetamine. The former is a stimulant that can negatively impact sexual function by altering sperm functionality and cause infertility.
Methamphetamine, on the other hand, is not known to impact your sexual abilities directly but contributes bad behavior that may put you at a higher risk of becoming infertile.
For example, the drug amplifies your sexual tendencies, affects your sexual behavior, and puts you at risk of contracting STI’s some of which can cause infertility.
- Stress and Depression
Stress is linked to several health problems such as asthma, heart disease, depression, and obesity. However, recent studies by Colombia University’s Mailman School of Public Health indicate that stress can negatively impact the quality of your semen and sperm.
Another study published in the PubMed Central publication mentions that actively coping with a stressful environment such as being confrontation and assertiveness triggers the release of cortisol.
This hormone results in more vasoconstriction of the vessels, hampering steady blood flow to all organs, including the penis. According to the article titled “Lifestyle and fertility: the influence of stress and quality of life on male fertility,” states that this action reduces libido, semen quality, and even the erection strength.
The researchers measured stress levels of different men and different types of stress including stress life events such as the loss of a loved one, work-related stress, and general perceived stress. Each participant was also asked to provide their semen samples.
The study revealed that men who had experienced more than one stressful life event in the recent past had a reduced percentage of sperm motility. The percentage of sperm with a regular morphology had also declined significantly.
Even though it is not clear the mechanism by which our stress levels affect the quality of our sperms, scientists believe that stress promotes the release of glucocorticoids. These are steroid hormones that deplete testosterone levels thereby hindering the production of healthy sperm.
The research also found that despite the stress levels, unemployed men had lower semen quality compared to their employed counterparts. High-stress levels can also lead to oxidative stress. This causes physiological stress on the body which is linked to semen quality and general fertility.
- Being Overweight
Besides affecting your overall health, obesity can specifically impact your sex life in different ways. First, if you have a higher body mass index (BMI) you are at a higher risk of having low sperm count.
You may also be putting your sperm movement and quality at jeopardy which decreases their chances of fertilizing a woman’s ovum. Furthermore, poor sperm quality can lead to miscarriage.
Secondly, being overweight can cause hormonal imbalances which can affect your reproductive hormones such as testosterone. Decreased testosterone levels can negatively impact the ability of your testicles to produce quality sperms.
Another common problem in obese men that affects their fertility is the position of the scrotum. Overweight men have their scrotum in close contact with the body. This raises the temperature of both scrotum and testes that can damage the sperm.
Furthermore, obesity is also known to induce oxidative stress and affect the proper functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.
Being overweight can also impact your reproductive health indirectly by causing sleep disorders and altering your sexual behavior. On the best side, fertility problems caused by obesity can be reversed.
A medical procedure such as gastric bypass surgery, management of hormonal imbalance issues, and weight loss are effective in correcting obesity-induced infertility.
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- Tumors
Cancerous and non-cancerous cell growth may happen anytime. Once you become infected, your system works sub-optimally.
Still, tumors affect your lifestyle and reduce life fulfillment. You may be a victim of the unfortunate bad genes inheritance. Still, a poor diet and a modern high-paced lifestyle also play a certain role in propagating cell degradation.
Cancer can impact fertility in many ways. Any form of cancer has a reverberating effect on your entire body. But the circulatory system suffers the most. This is because it connects all other organs.
First, cancer affects the blood and nutrient supply to the sperm factory. This means that sperm cells wouldn’t grow in desired quantity and quality.
Second, cancer can also ravage the sperm production process. It ravages organs responsible for initiating sperm development and transfer.
Thus, defective cross-communication between these nodes would occur, causing a decline in sperm volume.
This is true when you have prostate or testicular cancers. They two harm your fertility through poor sperm production and delivery mechanism.
But cancer treatment does help much either. A report by the American Cancer Society titled “How Cancer and Cancer Treatment Can Affect Fertility in Males,” mentions that tumors could block the reproductive paths, or disrupt sperm ejaculation.
All cancer treatment methods including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy affect sperm production and male fertility, even when done at a spot reasonable far from the pelvis area.
- Hormonal issues
Besides infections, hormonal issues could impact your fertility. As you already know, sex hormones are located in various parts of your body.
They are found in the hypothalamus and pituitary regions of your brain, thyroid, testes, and prostate. To work well, these hormones communicate and send signals which crisscross these parts.
Poor coordination may result in hypogonadism. This is a process where sexual hormones aren’t produced in sufficient volume to support the proper functioning of these organs.
A defective hormone supply prevents the secretion of Follicle Stimulating hormones and luteinizing hormones.
The failure disrupts the testicular function, which causes dwindling testosterone levels, which then cascade into low sperm count and poor quality.
But inadequate secretion of T-cells can be treated via testosterone replacement therapy. Unfortunately, TRT has been found to further complicate fertility issues.
Hence, instead of the treatment regime countering these symptoms, it increases infertility, thus harming your fertility status.
In conclusion, five things that can potentially harm a man’s fertility were discussed. Fertility problems are common but can be avoided, and we hope that with the provided information, you can take preventive measures to secure your fertility.
SIMILAR QUESTION
Can Masturbation Cause Low Sperm Count?
Introduction
Masturbation is a common sexual behavior among both sexes and all ages. Although it is not a topic that is often discussed openly, it is a natural part of human sexuality. Masturbation can provide people with sexual pleasure and satisfaction, as well as help them to explore and understand their own bodies. Despite the prevalence of masturbation and its potential benefits, there is an ongoing debate about whether or not it can cause a decrease in sperm count. This paper will discuss the potential effects of masturbation on sperm count, as well as common misconceptions and potential treatments.
Effects of Masturbation on Sperm Count
When it comes to potential effects of masturbation on sperm count, there is no definitive answer. While some studies have suggested that it can lead to a decrease in sperm count, others have found no significant difference between men who masturbate and those who do not. However, it is important to note that the majority of these studies are observational in nature and do not take into account other factors which may affect sperm count, such as age, health status, and lifestyle choices.
Masturbation and Low Sperm Count: Common Misconceptions
A common misconception is that masturbation can cause a decrease in sperm count. This is not the case, as there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Additionally, it is important to note that sperm count is not a measure of fertility. While it can be a factor in determining fertility, other factors such as sperm motility and quality are also important when it comes to conception.
Treatment for Low Sperm Count
If a decrease in sperm count is a concern, there are a number of treatments available. These include lifestyle changes, such as limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly. Additionally, there are medications and supplements which have been shown to improve sperm count and motility. Finally, medical treatments such as surgery and sperm retrieval can be used to help increase fertility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that masturbation causes a decrease in sperm count. However, there are a number of factors which can affect sperm count, such as age, health status, and lifestyle choices. If a decrease in sperm count is a concern, there are a number of treatments available which can help to improve fertility.
