8 lifestyle factors that affect male fertility

What does a couple do when they face a difficulty conceiving? The fertility of a woman is checked. But at the same time it is important to check male fertility as well because half of the time male fertility is the cause.

To break it down, 35 to 40% of the time the problem is associated with the man, in 35 to 40% of cases it is associated with the woman, and the remaining 20 to 30% is a combination of the two, while a small percentage is due to unknown causes.

Normally, 40 to 300 million sperms are present in one milliliter of semen and if the number decreases to less than 15 million, it can cause a problem in conceiving. The sperm count is not the only reason for the couple facing problems in conceiving. The morphology and the mobility of the sperm should also be taken into consideration. From your diet to your lifestyle, many things affect the number, mobility and size of your sperm and thus male fertility.

A number of things and processes combine together in determining male fertility. Approximately 200 million sperm combine with semen to form ejaculate. Depending on the man, 15 to 45 million of these sperm have what it takes to fertilize an egg. However, only a small percentage of these sperm (about 400) actually end up in a man’s ejaculate, and then only 10% of them will come close to the egg. Finally, only one sperm will fertilize the egg.

8 Factors affecting male fertility

Men who are trying to have a family now or in the future need to consider their diet and lifestyle factors that affect sperm production and male fertility.

1. Smoking lowers sperm counts

Smoking lowers a man’s sperm count and also makes sperm less mobile, thus leading to male infertility. Long-term use of marijuana also lowers sperm count and causes sperm to develop abnormally.

2. Tightly packed testicles reduce sperm count

Men who wear tight underwear or tight pants cause their testes to heat up, and that spells disaster for sperm. Testes that are several degrees hotter than they should be will not produce enough sperm, resulting in a low sperm count. If you are ready to switch to boxers and looser pants, it is important to know that it takes about 10 to 11 weeks before sperm production gets back up to speed once your testicles are freed up.

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3. Alcohol affects sperm production

Excessive alcohol use can lower the body’s ability to produce normal sperm.

4. Using laptop on your lap

As said, it is important to keep your testes cool and if the temperature in the testes is more than your body temperature, it will harm sperm count. Using laptop on your lap can heat up your testes as it emits a lot of heat from the bottom. Avoid using the system on your lap; instead place it on a table.

5. Abnormal weight reduces fertility

Any abnormal change in your weight will affect your fertility. An increase in weight will lead to an imbalance in hormone levels, which will affect the quality of the sperm. If a man is underweight, he will have low sperm count.

6. Excessive exercise lowers testosterone

Regular exercise is beneficial for your body. However, a prolonged period of intensive exercise can decrease your testosterone levels, which in turn decreases the sperm count. It is advisable to do a less intensive routine if your BMI is lower than 18.5. You can do high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to maintain your health, body and quality of your sperm.

“In males, heavy training sessions can reduce the sperm count in the body that is directly related to the fertility of a man. There are many who have been following long-term training sessions in order to maintain the body. If one is into exhaustive training sessions, there are chances that they might have less sperm count compared to a man who has been following normal training sessions,” said Arvind Vaid, an IVF expert at the city-based Indira IVF Hospital.

Rekha Goswami, a city-based independent IVF expert, who previously worked with the AIIMS, said though heavy workout causes infertility problems in the long run, what is of immediate concern was consumption of steroids without medical advice.

7. Low nutrient levels mess up sperm

Male fertility may be associated with low levels of vitamin C and zinc, a mineral necessary for proper prostate function. Insufficient amounts of these nutrients can cause sperm to bind together, thus reducing their effectiveness.

8. Infections and STDs can stop fatherhood

Certain infections and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as brucellosis, gonorrhea, influenza, mumps, syphilis, tuberculosis, and typhoid can cause the testicles to atrophy and result in low sperm motility and low sperm count. STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can block the epididymis tubes, which leads to infertility, although the tubes can be cleared with surgery.

To conclude, if you want to start a family or are struggling to conceive, the lifestyle and other factors listed above will go a long way to help you achieve your goals.

Start making positive changes today!