International Men’s Health Week

Health tips to improve fertility in men

International Men’s Health Week is celebrated in several countries the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. The main goal of the annual celebration of this health campaign is to increase awareness of preventable health problems (both physical and mental) and encourage early detection and treatment of conditions among men and boys. This year, Men’s Health Week runs from 10-16 June. This period is a good time for all men to reflect and focus on their health.

Entering the joy of parenthood has become very challenging in the present world for many couples due to various lifestyle modifications. According to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, infertility currently affects about 10 to 14 percent of the Indian population. Infertility is defined as not conceiving after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without the use of birth control
Of all infertility cases, 40 to 50% is due to “male factor” infertility. Almost one-fifth of men do not discuss these private topics such as bedroom concerns, relationships, and urinary issues with anyone.

Male infertility is due to sexual dysfunction, low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors can play a role in causing male infertility.

The following problems are associated with male infertility with or without the person’s knowledge. Sperm quantity, motility, quality are the three key parameters.

• Low sperm count:  A sperm count lesser than fifteen million per ml is considered low sperm count. Around one third of couples have difficulty conceiving due to a low sperm count.
• Low sperm motility: The sperms should actively swim and reach the egg in order to fertilise it. If the sperms cannot “swim” there will be no occurrence of fertilization.
•  Abnormal sperm: The sperm may have an unusual shape, making it harder to move and fertilize an egg. If the sperm do not have the right shape, or they cannot travel rapidly and accurately towards the egg, conception may be difficult.

These conditions of male infertility could be because of various reasons like testicular infection, overheated testicles, varicocele, hormonal imbalance, genetic factors, cancer, surgery, etc.,

Factors that can cause infertility in male are:

• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Usage of anabolic steroids (Gym supplements)
• Sugar sweetened beverages (Carbonated drinks)
• Exposure to chemicals (pesticides)
• Overweight or Obesity
• Mental stress
• Excessive exercise (over doing causes raise in scrotal temperature)

TV, cell phones and Laptops can affect your sperms
1. Watching TV more than 3 hrs a day
2. Usage of mobile phones for more than 2 hours a day
People living with in 1 km from tele communication network area are found to have low sperm count

DNA Fragmentation in Sperms:

In spite of all semen factors being normal and still the couple couldn’t conceive, then there is an important thing to investigate- DNA in the sperms. DNA fragmentation can be a cause of male infertility which can be due to various environmental factors and lifestyle habits. Exposure to chemicals, working in a hot environment (that can overheat the testicles), smoking can be causes of DNA fragmentation.

Care tips:
1. Adequate water consumption
2. Abstain from smoking at least 2 months in advance prior to conception.
3.eating well and nutritious diet rich in antioxidants like tomatoes,sweet potatoes,melon,carrots,pumpkin,fish,walnuts,blueberries,pomegranate and dark choclates.

DR SWAPNA SRINATH MS (obg), FNB
FNB – REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
FERTILITY SPECIALIST