3 Factors That Can Affect Male Fertility

It has been estimated that about 20% of men in the UK (around 1 in 5) have a low sperm count. For many, that can be attributed to factors with their lifestyle – there are various health and diet choices that have been demonstrated to impact on both sperm motility and semen quality.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at three of the largest contributors to male fertility problems and what you can do to reverse those effects. We recommend that any man looking to start a family should spend some time examining their existing health issues (if any) and adopting a healthier lifestyle to improve their chances of conceiving.

These are the key areas you should be addressing:

Smoking

As health professionals, we would recommend you give up smoking in any case, since it has proven health risks that increase with prolonged use. Smoking has been shown to reduce sperm production, due to a lower zinc content in a smoker’s semen. It also reduces the motility and density of your sperm, as well as the volume of your ejaculate. Aside from these issues, smoking can cause erectile dysfunction, while passive smoking can injure your partner and your baby.

Alcohol and recreational drugs

Drinking alcohol to excess can have a negative impact on the quality of your sperm. Alcohol consumption can cause a drop in your testosterone levels and an increase in your oestrogen levels, both of which have been shown to reduce the volume and quality of sperm produced. You don’t have to become a teetotaller, but we recommend cutting back as much as possible if you’re a big drinker.

Likewise, recreational drugs like marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and heroin, are all believed to negatively affect male fertility, as are such things as anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH). It is hard to confirm just how serious an impact these drugs can have, since testing on a large scale would be unethical, as it would require test subjects being given addictive narcotics. We would recommend that you cut out all recreational drugs from your lifestyle before trying to conceive a baby.

Weight

Obesity in men has been shown to massively affect male fertility problems. Studies indicate that a raised Body Mass Index (BMI) results in reduced sperm concentration and production, and also suggests that obesity can lead to lower sperm motility and morphology. There are several ways to lose weight gradually, with the most common being exercise and following a healthy nutritional plan.