I’m a fertility professional – listed here are three habits which are sperm killers for males

A fertility expert revealed the habits that men are doing on a daily basis that they should avoid if they’re trying for a baby with their partner.

Dr Pedi Mirdamadi, from California, warned that men could be unknowingly causing problems which could impact sperm count and quality with these activities. 

The naturopathic and functional medicine doctor took to his Instagram page to warn that certain foods, exposure to toxins or electromagnetic frequencies could lead to significantly reduced fertility.

Highlighting three ‘fertility killers’ that men should avoid if they are trying to conceive, Dr Pedi said to stay away from hot saunas or Jacuzzis, cell phones in their pockets and vaping. 

He explained: ‘This is because when the testicles are exposed to heat for an extended period of time, this could negatively affect sperm production as well as sperm function.

‘This happens because the testicles like cooler temperatures and this is why they hang outside the body. 

‘Since the average lifespan of a sperm is 74 days, going to a hot tub even once for an extended period of time can negatively affect sperm production for up to three months.’

The fertility specialist also cautioned that keeping your mobile phone in your pocket could cause issues. 

Dr Pedi Mirdamadi, from California, revealed the things that men are doing on a daily basis that they should avoid if they’re trying for baby

He elaborated: ‘The research suggests that sperm quality may be negatively impacted and suffer as a result of direct radiation to the reproductive areas. 

‘Men who keep their mobile phones in their pockets tend to have lower sperm counts than those who kept their phones outside of the pocket, according to the research.’ 

Dr Pedi also linked E-cigarettes to low sperm counts, saying they have harmful chemicals.

He said: ‘Chemicals such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin which have been linked to infertility. Vaping has also been shown to decrease sperm quality, count and motility in males.’ 

The doctor offered some advice for improving fertility levels in the video caption, he said: ‘When it comes to fertility minimizing, the sources of environmental toxins is crucial for optimizing hormones, and fertility.

‘Additionally, there are nutrients like antioxidants that should be optimized in order to ensure a healthy fertility journey.

‘IV therapy can be a great way to optimize nutrients, including these antioxidants and a super nutrient for fertility, which is NAD+.

‘Optimizing hormones is also a crucial step in optimizing the function and quantity of sperm which play a pivotal role in fertility outcomes.’

The fertility expert warned that men could be unknowingly causing problems which could impact sperm count and quality with these activities

THE CAUSES OF MALE INFERTILITY

The most common cause of infertility in men is poor-quality semen, the fluid containing sperm that’s ejaculated during sex.

Possible reasons for abnormal semen include:

  • a lack of sperm – you may have a very low sperm count or no sperm at all
  • sperm that aren’t moving properly – this will make it harder for sperm to swim to the egg
  • abnormal sperm – sperm can sometimes be an abnormal shape, making it harder for them to move and fertilise an egg

Many cases of abnormal semen are unexplained.

There’s a link between increased temperature of the scrotum and reduced semen quality, but it’s uncertain whether wearing loose-fitting underwear improves fertility.

Testicles

The testicles produce and store sperm. If they’re damaged, it can seriously affect the quality of your semen.

This can happen as a result of:

  • an infection of your testicles
  • testicular cancer
  • testicular surgery
  • a problem with your testicles you were born with (a congenital defect)
  • when one or both testicles hasn’t descended into the scrotum, the loose sac of skin that contains your testicles (undescended testicles)
  • injury to your testicles

Sterilisation

Some men choose to have a vasectomy if they don’t want children or any more children.

It involves cutting and sealing off the tubes that carry sperm out of your testicles (the vas deferens) so your semen will no longer contain any sperm.

A vasectomy can be reversed, but reversals aren’t usually successful. 

Hypogonadism

Hypogonadism is an abnormally low level of testosterone, the male sex hormone involved in making sperm.

It could be caused by a tumour, taking illegal drugs, or Klinefelter syndrome, a rare syndrome where a man is born with an extra female chromosome.

Medicines and drugs

Certain types of medicines can sometimes cause infertility problems.

These medicines are listed below:

  • sulfasalazine – an anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat conditions such as Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis; sulfasalazine can decrease the number of sperm, but its effects are temporary and your sperm count should return to normal when you stop taking it
  • anabolic steroids – are often used illegally to build muscle and improve athletic performance; long-term abuse of anabolic steroids can reduce sperm count and sperm mobility
  • chemotherapy – medicines used in chemotherapy can sometimes severely reduce sperm production
  • herbal remedies – some herbal remedies, such as root extracts of the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, can affect the production of sperm or reduce the size of your testicles
  • illegal drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, can also affect semen quality.

Source: NHS 

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