5 habits that cause a drop in sperm count

Sperm is the male reproductive cell that is developed in the testicles and is released in the form of semen from the penis during ejaculation. Human testicles are capable of producing millions of sperm cells daily. In order to achieve fertilisation, the quantity and quality of a man’s sperm is crucial. The process behind successful fertilisation and pregnancy depends upon the mobility of the sperm to swim forward toward the egg to achieve a fusion of the sperm and the egg.

Dr. Lakshmi Chirunmamilla, Fertility Consultant at Nova IVF Fertility, Banjara Hills Hyderabad says, “There are cases of oligospermia, a condition where a man has a relatively low sperm count due to external factors leading to male infertility. Different factors can affect a person's sperm count ranging from lifestyle choices, medications, or genetic disorders.”

Age plays a critical role in the reproduction process because the quality and quantity of the sperm decline with age. Men with older semen undergo issues such as poor semen performance, lower volume, and mobility of the sperm. Studies indicate that children of older fathers are at a higher risk of developing psychological issues due to chromosome abnormalities like autism in most cases.

According to Dr. Chirunmamilla, “A man’s lifestyle decisions can significantly affect sperm count. Activities such as the consumption of alcohol, recreational drugs, and tobacco increase the level of cadmium which damages the DNA of the sperm and reduces the quality and quality of the sperm. These intoxicating substances also lower seminal fluid production and the blood supply to the penis.”

A high level of stress hormones in the bloodstream is harmful as it affects the quality, production level, and ability of the sperm to fertilise the egg. What men fail to realise is how bodybuilding supplements have anabolic steroids which increase muscle mass however anabolic steroids shrink the testes, decrease sperm production, and reduce sperm quality leading to infertility.

“Sperm are heat-sensitive because human testes cannot produce sperm unless they stay 2 to 4 degrees cooler than the body temperature. This is why the testicles are positioned outside of the abdominal cavity therefore exposure to heat harms healthy sperm and affects sperm production.

As stated earlier, the environment behind sperm production is extremely sensitive, hence it is observed that men in contact with pesticides and paints during work can undergo adverse impact on the production and quality of the sperm,” says Dr. Chirunmamilla.

Long-term exposure to radiation affects the sperm in numerous ways such as decreased motility, altered shape, reduced vitality, and quality of the sperm. Hence it is advised to avoid carrying electronic gadgets such as cell phones in the trouser pocket as it negatively impacts sperm quality.

“Certain medical conditions, testicular symptoms, or injury may increase the chances of low sperm count. Men with Klinefelter syndrome have lower amounts of testosterone hence the testicles produce little or no sperm,” says Dr. Chirunmamilla.

●Varicocele, a condition where the veins within the scrotum undergo swelling or enlargement which may cause an impact on the sperm count leading to infertility.

●Sexually transmitted infections that may cause blockages, scarring, or other damage to the reproductive system or its organs.

●Diabetes and spinal injuries create issues with erection or ejaculation and may cause erectile dysfunction or retrograde ejaculation.

●Conditions like cystic fibrosis may block the sperm from entering the semen resulting in low sperm count.

●Injury or trauma to the testicle doesn't affect the quality of sperm cells that are already produced; however, it can block the blood supply to the sperm-producing tissue which affects the ability to produce sperm.

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