22nd May 2013 | by MFC Team
Lifestyle choices can affect male fertility
According to The National Infertility Association, approximately 35% of all infertility cases are attributable to fertility issues experienced by men. There are numerous documented causes of male factor infertility, many of which are beyond men’s control (e.g., structural anomalies, endocrine or hormonal problems, genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, viruses such as mumps). However, in some cases lifestyle choices may contribute to male factor infertility.
For example, since testosterone treatments can suppress the production of hormones that are necessary for sperm production, men who receive testosterone injections may be at increased risk for infertility. The use of anabolic steroids also has been known to negatively affect men’s fertility. It has also been suggested that laptop use may be implicated in damaging sperm because the heat from computers raises the temperature around a man’s testicles. In addition, spending time in environments that are over 100 degrees (e.g., hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms) for longer than 30 minutes a day may interfere with sperm production. Diet has also been implicated as an important factor in men’s fertility. For example, some researchers have found that men who eat higher amounts of dairy products are more likely to have poorer quality sperm. In addition, being significantly under- or overweight may have a negative impact on the quality of a man’s sperm. Reduced fertility has also been linked to smoking, drinking alcohol, and using recreational drugs.
If you are interested in becoming a father, talk with your doctor or fertility specialist about lifestyle factors that may affect your fertility.
To read more about lifestyle factors and male fertility, click here, here, here, here, and here.
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