Recent studies have reported that men are producing less sperm than they were 40 years ago! What does this mean?
The research has shown that there has been a steady decline in sperm counts across Western Countries over the last four decades and it’s possible that our changing diets, unhealthy lifestyles, and the chemicals we are exposed to every day are to blame.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2016 it was estimated that globally 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight, and 13% were obese. Obesity has been linked to reduced sperm concentrations, poor morphology and increased DNA damage in men, and can have long lasting effects on spermatogenesis.
Unhealthy lifestyles have also shown strong associations to declining fertility in men, for example, excess alcohol, smoking, drug use and exposure to chemicals and pesticides have shown to negatively effect sperm production and concentration, and be largely responsible for increased DNA damage inside the sperm, which in turn can also increase the rate of miscarriages and abnormalities during pregnancy.
So, what can you do to boost your sperm quality and possibly your quantity?
First and foremost, you need to ensure you’re maintaining a healthy lifestyle, whether that includes cutting back on your alcohol intake, quitting those cigarettes, avoiding exposure to chemicals and pollutants, or doing what you can to maintain a healthy weight.
Sperm health is heavily influenced by your lifestyle, and there have been countless studies that have supported these links. When you’re thinking of starting a family, beginning with maternal and paternal health is important and one of the most overlooked components when it comes to fertility.
