5 myths and facts about male infertility

Since we know that fertility issues are evenly shared between a man and a woman and it isn’t always the woman’s fault, it is important to bust some myths or lies around male fertility.

Fact – Smoking affects your sperm cells

Research has shown that sperm movement and shape is affected by smoking cigarettes and marijuana and drinking excess alcohol. Smoking also causes sperm to stick together and increase white blood cells in sperm.

Fact – Age affects male fertility

It is believed that it is only the woman whose age affects her fertility. Once a woman reaches 30 years old, her fertility rate begins to decline =, but it is not only women. Once a man reaches 40 years old, his sperm quality begins to decline. That is why sperm banks do not accept sperm from men above 40.

Facts - They don't matter just keep your testes from heat

Well, not enough research exists to back up the briefs to boxers’ argument. Your testes need to be cooler than other parts of your body to produce good sperm and often this means not sitting in hot tubs or putting your laptop on your lap. 

Fact – Testosterone affects sperm production adversely

Testosterone is the male hormone that is responsible for all the changes teenage boys notice, for instance, deep voices and beards but does it also affect sperm production such that taking more testosterone supplements will increase sperm production?

Taking testosterone supplements will potentially decrease male fertility and even eliminate it by decreasing follicle-stimulating hormones responsible for sperm production.

Fact – Obesity affects sperm production

The fatter a man becomes, the lower his testosterone, the higher his oestrogen and the fewer sperm are produced and ejaculated. Harvard did research and discovered that overweight men are 11% more likely to have low sperm count and 39% more likely to have no sperm when they ejaculate.