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There are many things that make it difficult for couples to get pregnant related to their husband's sperm, including low sperm quality. In 1 in 10 infertile couples, it is estimated that as much as 30% of the cause is due to sperm. Apart from congenital factors, it is possible that this is caused by things that damage the sperm.
Although men produce millions of sperm per day (compared to women who release 300-400 eggs during their lifetime), external factors such as temperature can greatly affect sperm health. And because sperm cells take about 75 days to grow to maturity, poor quality sperm can affect your fertility.
Here are 10 surprising factors that can reduce sperm quality:
1. Excess heat
The human testicles cannot function properly unless the temperature is colder than the rest of the body. Fortunately, the male anatomy is designed to create the distance between the testes and core body temperature. If the testicular temperature rises to 37 C, sperm production is impaired. Some everyday situations that allow your testicles to be exposed to excess heat are when you are in hot water, working with a laptop on your lap, wearing tight pants, or sitting too long in a hot place such as driving a bus or truck.
3. Overweight
Being overweight not only impairs female fertility, it can also reduce sperm count and cause sexual dysfunction in men. According to a 2009 study by the WHO, men who were initially fertile but later became obese had dramatically reduced testicular function and significantly lower sperm counts.
However, although obesity can reduce sperm count, this will not make a man infertile unless he is obese, aka extreme overweight.
4. Alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes
Tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana can impair sexual function. Alcohol abuse negatively affects sperm quality and production, while smoking impairs sperm motility.
Apart from slowing down the secretion of sperm, other studies have shown that smoking can damage sperm DNA and increase the risk of impotence. Marijuana is also not good because it has been shown to reduce sperm count, sperm function, and overall male fertility.
5. Other problems that affect sperm
Several physical and psychological conditions can also negatively affect sperm, including:
- Emotional stress. Stress can interfere with hormones that affect fertility.
- Genetic disorders. Chromosomal abnormalities can cause decreased or stopped sperm production. For example, one form of fibrosis cyst can cause the vas deferens not to form.
- Other detrimental factors. Anti-sperm antibodies, hormonal imbalances, testicular cancer, undescended testicles, and sexual problems can also affect sperm.
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