Infertility affects about 20% of couples of reproductive age. This percentage has been rising over the recent years, due to environmental factors and social 'lifestyle' factors. Infertility affects both sexes and is attributable to the male partner in half the cases.

 

Several factors are responsible for the rising rate of male infertility. 

 

Age

 

Infertility increases with the age of the male (>40 years).

 

It is associated with:

 

Reduced semen volume, reduced concentration (number), and motility, as well as poor morphology of spermatozoa. Increased risk for genetic and epigenetic lesions in sperm. It is also associated with lower pregnancy rates and increased spontaneous abortion rates.

 

Various types of therapy and lifestyle changes may help reduce some of these negative effects of age on fertility.

 

Lifestyle

 

Lifestle includes  a wide range of habits we have acquired over the years, by following the 'fashion trends'. Such habits are, for example, increased coffee intake, use of mobile devices, smoking, increased alcohol intake, increased stress, use of illegal substances (including marijuana and opioids), irrational use of pharmaceutical drugs, and wearing tight clothes, which cumulatively contribute to the gradual reduction of male fertility.

 

We must also mention increased body weight, which significantly affects male fertility. Thus, increased BMI (Body Mass Index) is associated with reduced sperm concentration, as well as hormone levels in the body(LH, T, PRL, Testosterone).

 

A lifestyle chgange may prove beneficial several to several body parameters. These range from weight loss to stoppnig smoking.