What external factors can affect the quality of semen and reduce the ability to fertilize in men? A study carried out by a team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Stanford University in California (USA), has unraveled those causes related to our lifestyle that, outside of those already studied such as stress, cause this consequence. The conclusions of the study have been published in the journal Fertility and Sterility .
“Male infertility plays an important role, and our goal is to explore the influence of environmental factors and health status on semen quality,” explains Germaine Buck Louis, leader of the study.
The quality of semen is based on the number, shape, and ability of the sperm to move, as well as other factors. Thus, the experts had the participation of more than 500 couples with an average age of 31.8 years , white and with a university education. The couples had stopped using contraceptives and all of them were followed for 12 months.
The male participants, apart from providing a sample of their semen, were subjected to several interviews about their reproductive history, lifestyle, professional activity and health. The results after this period of time revealed, among other things, that 13% of men whose work required great physical effort had a low sperm count , compared with 6% whose work required no force.
In addition, those who had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes also had a lower percentage of sperm compared to those who did not have these health characteristics. In the same way, those who took medication, 15% had the number of sperm below what is considered normal, 39 million per milliliter .
With all this, the research concludes that having a physically demanding job, taking several medications and suffering from high blood pressure are some of the factors that can decrease the quality of semen and hinder the desired conception on the part of the couple.
