After marriage, infertility is one of the most feared issues. So, do you know which daily bad habits can lead to male infertility?
Habits That Cause Male Infertility
Smoking
Smoking has long been harmful to our health, and causing male infertility is one of its dangers. Heavy smoking increases thiocyanate levels in semen, suppresses sperm motility, reduces fertility, and gradually causes sperm deformities.Moreover, nicotine in cigarettes possesses spermicidal properties, reducing sperm survival rates.Regular heavy drinking can also lead to conditions like erectile dysfunction. Coffee Coffee is a popular pick-me-up among many office workers today. However, if you're trying to conceive, it's best to avoid coffee. Excessive caffeine intake can impair fertility. It's also advisable to limit other caffeinated beverages.
Wearing Skinny Jeans
Skinny jeans are a popular choice among many men for their stylish fit. However, due to the fabric's nature, skinny jeans offer poor ventilation, keeping the testicles in a persistently high-temperature environment.Additionally, the tight fit constricts the scrotum and testicles. Both factors can impair sperm motility and production rates, potentially leading to infertility.While convenient, the pocket is very close to the testicles. As an electronic device, phones emit electromagnetic waves that can easily impair testicular function and consequently affect sperm quality.
Excessive masturbation
Frequent masturbation can lead to overstimulation, resulting in progressively reduced semen volume during ejaculation.Therefore, avoid excessive masturbation. However, do not suppress sexual activity entirely; a frequency of about once every three days is generally sufficient.
Excessive Stress
Chronic, intense stress can disrupt the nervous system and cause endocrine imbalances. Together, these factors can lead to disturbances in the testes' sperm-producing function. In severe cases, this may result in male infertility.
What are the symptoms of male infertility?
1. Increased or decreased semen volume
A normal single ejaculation typically ranges from 2 to 6 milliliters. Volume below 1.5 milliliters indicates hypospermia, while over 6 milliliters suggests hyperspermia. Increased semen volume does not necessarily mean more sperm.
2. Hematospermia
Blood mixed in semen. Severe cases show visible blood in semen, termed "macroscopic hematospermia"; mild cases are invisible to the naked eye but reveal red blood cells under a microscope, termed "microscopic hematospermia."
3. Seminal Non-Liquefaction
Typically, healthy semen exhibits uniform fluidity. If ejaculated semen fails to liquefy within 60 minutes at room temperature (22–25°C) or retains liquefied clumps, it is termed "seminal non-liquefaction." This condition impairs sperm agglutination or motility, slowing or inhibiting normal sperm movement.
4. Seminal Discharge
This refers to the presence of semen in male urine or the appearance of semen-like discharge after urination.
5. Varicocele
A symptom of male infertility, varicocele refers to the dilation of the pampiniform venous plexus in the spermatic cord. This obstructs blood return to the testicles, elevates temperature, disrupts metabolism, and prevents timely removal of harmful substances. Consequently, spermatogenesis is impaired, leading to oligospermia, sperm abnormalities, reduced motility, and infertility.
6. Sexual Dysfunction
Male infertility symptoms include erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, decreased libido, and ejaculatory disorders—significant causes of infertility. Anejaculation or retrograde ejaculation prevents sufficient semen from entering the vagina during intercourse, hindering sperm-egg encounter and fertilization.
7. Genital Malformations or Developmental Abnormalities
Common manifestations include genital deformities or developmental anomalies such as urethral stricture, urethral fistula, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, epispadias, and severe Peyronie's disease.
8. Genital itching, pain, or discomfort
Genital discomfort like itching or pain often stems from genital infections or chronic inflammation of accessory reproductive glands. These conditions can alter semen parameters in laboratory tests and lead to infertility.