When you talk about fertility, most of the time you talk about eggs, wombs, and IVF treatments. But what about male fertility? If you’re looking to start a family now or even years down the line, you’ll need to know what factors can affect his swimmers, too. We consulted Philip Werthman, M.D., director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine in Los Angeles, to reveal all the crucial facts about male fertility:
1. STD’s Are a Major (Preventable) Cause of Fertility Problems
Sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and gonorrhea are the number one avoidable cause of infertility in men, explains Werthman. If they go undiagnosed, the infections can cause inflammation and blockages of the vas deferens. This is just one more good reason for guys to get frequent STD screenings.
2. Aluminum May Affect His Swimmers
Recent research published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology found higher concentrations of aluminum in semen that had a lower sperm count. While it warrants further research, the association might make you rethink aluminum cans and pots and pans.
3. Higher Temps Are Bad for His Manhood
“Heat is terrible for sperm,” confirms Werthman, “and sitting in hot tubs or saunas will decrease sperm count anywhere from one to four months.” Yikes.
MORE: What A Man’s Face Says About His Fertility
4. Male Fertility Also Decreases With Age, Just More Subtly
There’s no general cut-off time for male fertility like there is for women, but still, there is a gradual decline as a man gets older, says Werthman. Although he’s seen men in their 80s produce offspring, every man’s sperm count still decreases to some degree with age.
5. Vegetarians and Vegans Might Have Poorer Sperm
Even though being a vegetarian or vegan might be great for your health in certain respects, new research from Loma Linda University Medical School found that men who do not eat meat have significantly reduced sperm counts. On top of that, only one third of their sperm is active, whereas sixty percent of a meat eater’s sperm is active, which makes it a lot easier to connect with that elusive egg.
6. Smoking Hurts Male Fertility
Smoking cigarettes is terrible for sperm, explains Werthman, and smoking marijuana may be just as bad. The chemical THC can get into the body’s fat stores and has been shown in some studies to cause hormonal disruption and abnormally shaped sperm.
MORE: 14 Ways to Outsmart Sperm
7. SSRI’s Can Damage Sperm DNA
At least one study has found that SSRI antidepressants caused DNA damage in sperm, says Werthman. This doesn’t mean a man on SSRI’s can’t get a woman pregnant, but there is a risk of genetic abnormality. Once off these medications, however, the subjects’ sperm counts did return to normal.
8. Obesity Heavily Effects Fertility
“The healthier you are, the healthier your sperm is,” says Werthman. If a man’s BMI is higher than 35, there is a marked decline in fertility and sperm count. However, the good news is that diet and exercise can help get his swimmers back in shape.
9. His Laptop Needs a Buffer
As Werthman said, heat in saunas and hot tubs are bad news for sperm, and the heat from a laptop is just as harmful. He suggests that men avoid direct contact and put a board between their groin area and their computer to mitigate heat flow.
MORE: 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Sperm
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