Fertility issues do not always lie with a woman in every relationship because, believe it or not, sometimes the problem is on the man's end, too. Infertile men? Yes, that is a thing. 

Male Infertility

South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that worldwide infertility affects 15% of couples. 

Women have always carried the burden of the blame for infertility issues. However, few people realize that male infertility may make up as much as half of all infertility cases.

Men avoid discussing their fertility because they worry it will diminish their manhood.

Professor Richard Pilsner's group at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, studies the function of sperm from a paternal viewpoint.

Pilsner said women bear the brunt of reproductive success while there is a paradigm shift in which we recognize that reproductive success is couple-dependent. The study focusing on men has been overlooked, he claims.

One in six couples has subfertility or difficulty conceiving. Both parties should be examined, says the Hong Kong Family Planning Association (FPAHK). With therapy, two-thirds of couples may fall pregnant.

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Impacting Variables

As per SCMP, many variables that impact female fertility also affect males, including lifestyle. 

Dr. Neel Parekh, male infertility and men's health expert at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, emphasizes the link between infertility and health.

Smoking, excessive drinking, drug misuse, obesity, and stress all matter, he says.

Pilsner thinks men should focus on healthy sperm before having kids. He explains that their environmental obligation begins three months before conception when sperm matures.

Men over 40 have a reduced natural birthrate. Age may change sperm DNA, which affects sperm count, motility, and its form.

Pilsner highlights that it is the epigenetic age of a man's sperm that matters. Cell age is defined by epigenetics, and tobacco use may influence that.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says a healthy sperm count is 15 to 200 million per ml of semen. If it is under 15 million, a guy has a low sperm count.

Sperm Quality

Global sperm quality is declining, SCMP reported. Professor Gabriel Chodick of Tel-Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine thinks this may be because teenage and adult male testosterone levels have dropped.

A growing waistline is one factor. Higher BMI predicted falling testosterone, which may be attributable to rising obesity prevalence. Other causes include drug usage, sleep disturbances, and environmental pollutants.

"Lower testosterone levels may increase the incidence of low libido and erectile dysfunction and consequently lead to lower fertility," Chodick states.

Pieces of Advice

Do not smoke. Cigarette smoke carries several toxic substances that harm sperm. Heavy smokers create fewer sperm and more improperly shaped sperm.

Check BMI. Being overweight may damage a man's confidence and sexual desire and can cause erectile dysfunction and sperm motility.

Keep cool. Saunas, hot showers, and baths may inhibit sperm development and cell activity. Tight underpants may impair sperm's health, development, and motility.

Avoid fast food and eat healthily. Processed meals may lower testosterone, affecting sperm count and motility. Omega-3s from oily fish like tuna and salmon improve sperm motility.

Skip drugs and restrict alcohol. Prescription medicines like opiates and antidepressants decrease sperm quantity and quality. Marijuana and other substances are harmful, as well.

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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada

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