Bald hair at a young age, increases the risk of men becoming infertile

Generally, baldness starts in middle age and continues gradually into old age. However, some men can start to go bald earlier than they should because of hormonal factors that are influenced by heredity. Bald hair at a young age due to heredity is called androgenetic alopecia.

Several studies suggest that bald hair due to androgenic alopecia is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. But apparently, baldness at a young age has also been found to be associated with decreased sperm quality, which can affect male fertility. How can?

Overview of androgenetic alopecia

Alopecia is a condition where you lose large amounts of hair, which can lead to full baldness of the scalp. Average hair loss is 25-100 strands per day. You are said to have alopecia if you lose more than 100 hairs per day.

Alopecia itself has many types, and is more likely to be experienced by people from middle age to old age. When baldness starts at a young age - it can even occur from the onset of puberty - it is known as androgenetic alopecia.

There are three stages that need to be passed until the hair falls out completely and finally bald. The first stage is the anagen stage, which is the stage of active hair fiber growth. This stage can last for 2-7 years. As much as 80-85 percent of your hair is currently in the anagen phase.

The next stage is catagen, aka the transition phase. The catagen phase is characterized by hair that stops growing, usually lasting 10-20 days. The third stage is the telogen phase, which occurs when hair completely stops growing and then starts to fall out. As many as 10-15 percent of hair is in the telogen phase, which generally lasts up to 100 days.

Each hair on your head has its own cycle. The hair that falls out should then be replaced with new hair. However, in alopecia, the hair replacement process does not occur. Androgenetic alopecia is influenced by androgen hormones and heredity. One of the functions of the androgen hormone is to regulate hair growth.

How does balding at a young age affect male fertility?

Male baldness begins with a receding hairline on the forehead, accompanied by dots or small circular areas of baldness on the scalp that may spread over time. The severity of baldness can vary, from mild to severe.

The more severe the baldness you experience at a young age is associated with an increased risk of low sperm quality. Several factors contributed to this. Young men with moderate to severe degree of baldness have decreased levels of SBHG (sex hormone-binding globulin) in his blood. SHBG is a protein complex that binds to human sex hormones, including androgens and estrogens. SBHG and sex hormones have a role in a series of human fertility processes. Low levels of SBHG result in a decrease in the production process and maturation of sperm cells.

In some cases, men who experience baldness at a young age may also experience hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is a condition of deficiency of reproductive hormones, one of which is characterized by low levels of testosterone in the body. In fact, the hormone testosterone plays an important role for male sexual growth and development. Men who experience a testosterone deficiency can be seen from bald or thinning hair over time, as well as underarm and pubic hair that doesn't grow. Low testosterone levels also inhibit the production of healthy sperm cells.

In addition, baldness in young men is also associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes (diabetes), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity. These various conditions will later affect the sperm maturation process so that the resulting sperm has poor quality. One of the causes is oxidative stress caused by these metabolic diseases.

Good sperm quality is influenced by the following three factors: sperm count, shape, and movement (motility). If there is only one, or more, sperm abnormalities from the three factors, then you are at high risk of fertility problems or even infertility.

Having a bald head doesn't mean you are definitely infertile

A man with bald hair at a young age does not necessarily mean that he will not be able to have children. However, this phenomenon may be one indication of a disturbance in a man's body. Early detection of the risk of serious diseases and consultation with a doctor are needed so that it can be done if you are at high risk of experiencing fertility problems.