Tag: sperm quality

Male fertility. Are men under extinction?

Last modified: September 28, 2018
Are men under extinction?

Are men under extinction?

Are men under extinction and what does this have to do with the declining male fertility?

Over the last 40 years the percentage of infertility has been quadrupled: from 4% in 1965 to 16% in our times. Nowadays, one of the most common cause of infertility is poor sperm quality and low sperm count. So what’s wrong?

There are several factors affecting male fertility more or less, both environmental and genetic. All these combined can change the overall sperm quality in time.

How does male genetics contribute to this outcome?

Sperm production in males is controlled by a series of male-specific genes found on Y chromosome. Y chromosome structure, however, is not as stable as of other chromosomes’ since it lacks a gene necessary for fixing mistakes made during duplication of the genetic material. That means that Y cannot efficiently fix genetic mistakes leading to its gradual degradation over time and consequently to declining male fertility.

Experts estimate that due to the inherent fragility of male sex chromosome Y, men are heading towards extinction. Whether this happens or not, that is something for evolution to determine but certainly this event signifies the possibility of men dealing with growing reproductive problems in the future.

Luckily, the constant development of male infertility treatments allows fertility specialists to help men with low or even zero sperm count to become fathers. In such cases, sperm is harvested straight from the testicles and directly injected into the oocyte for a successful fertilisation.

This technique, ICSI, is the only one that can efficiently assist an infertile man with poor sperm quality. Technology (ART) enables infertile men to father a child while, on the other hand, such a cure supports gene perpetuation from practically infertile fathers to boys potentially suffering from the same reproductive problems in the future.

The positive side of the subject is that first of all, everyone has the right to use assisted reproductive technology. Secondly, scientific progress might even be able to cure men’s reproductive problems in overall, on a genetic level someday in the future.

Do you think science could solve this ‘’men under extinction’’ problem in the future?

Improved sperm quality and pregnancy outcomes with spermatozoa after a short ejaculatory abstinence.

Last modified: October 10, 2018

Semen samples from men after a short ejaculatory abstinence show improved sperm quality and result in increased pregnancy rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cases.

According to the study ejaculates from short (1–3 hours) compared with long (3–7 days) periods of abstinence showed increases in motile sperm count, sperm vitality, normal sperm morphology, acrosome reaction capacity, total antioxidant capacity, sperm mitochondrial membrane potential, high DNA stainability, and a decrease in the sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI).

Complex structure at the tip of the sperm tail

Last modified: March 7, 2018

New studysperm tail led to the discovery of a novel, complex structure at the tip of the sperm tail that has never been seen before.

Since sperm motility and morphology are determinants of male fertility, understanding the functional role of the TAILS complex may have clinical implications relating to male infertility and contraception.

Male Fertility Declines with Age

Last modified: December 4, 2021

It now appears that women are not the only one who have to worry about their biological clock since male fertility declines with age as well, research reveals. Although, there are differences between male and female fertility, experts now advise male population wishing to have biological children, to avoid losing time. ’’Men too cannot afford waiting forever’’ says Dr. Paula Fettback of the Huntingdon Reproductive Medicine Centre in Brazil.

Male Fertility Declines with Age

At the age of 45 chances of a man to father a child drop to 35%.

Dr. Fettback lead a study focused on the outcome of 570 IVF treatments carried out at her clinic. More specifically, fertility outcome was analyzed for 570 men under fertility treatment from March 2008 to April 2011. In order to eliminate female infertility factors, researchers only studied cases of IVF treatment where eggs from young and healthy women were used through egg donation.  They came to result that in couples who had difficulty in conceiving male age was greater than in couples who achieved pregnancy. Actually, for couples where the man was 41 years old chances of conception were about 60%.

‘’Our investigation showed that for each extra year of paternal age pregnancy chances exhibit a decrease of 7%’’, highlighted Dr. Fettback. Furthermore, at the age of 45 chances of a man to father a child drop to 35% and these chances are dropping even faster in older ages, indicating that male fertility declines with age.

The effects of female age on human reproduction are more or less known. As for men, even though there is data suggesting that male fertility declines with age, the effects of male age factor are not fully elaborated, explains Dr. Fettback.

According to experts, attention should be paid to the fact that a growing number of men globally are following the trend of older parenthood. In Germany, for example, the average age of married fathers has increased from 31.3 to 33.1 in about 8 years. In England, fathers aged 35-54 accounted for 25% of overall child births. 10 years later this percentage reached about 40%.

Since more and more men are now choosing to become fathers in advanced age, a better understanding of male age factor as well as men’s sperm quality renders quite critical for public health.

What do you think? What is the ideal age for fathering a child?

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The top 10 superfoods that help you conceive

Last modified: December 4, 2021
10 superfoods

Balanced diet, rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals, is directly linked to fertility.

If you have decided it is time to build a family, make sure you enrich your diet with the following superfoods that can help you conceive.

The good news for all of you who are trying to get pregnant is that a balanced diet, rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals, is directly linked to fertility.

So here is a list of our top 10 superfoods that will boost your chances to conceive.

  • Bananas: B6 vitamin in bananas can increase fertility as it is connected to hormonal regulation in women. B6 deficiency can lead to irregular periods and poor egg and sperm quality as well.
  • Asparagus: the folic acid contained in asparagus helps with reducing chances of an ovulation disorder; this is why women trying to conceive are advised to take folic acid supplements.
  • Shell fish: vitamin B12 can be found in large amounts in shell fish and it may improve endometrial thickness, decreasing miscarriage incidents.
  • Eggs: eggs are rich in nutrients, among them vitamin D. A study by Yale researchers reported that among 67 women suffering infertility, the 93% had inadequate vitamin D levels.
  • Almonds: vitamin E contained in almonds improves sperm quality and it is believed that vitamin E deficiency is linked to fertility problems. Moreover, almonds’ antioxidant properties protect sperm and egg DNA from damages.
  • Citrus fruits: citrus fruits are also rich in vitamin D, which apart from its relation to female fertility it has been shown that it may improve sperm concentration and motility.
  • Tofu: tofu is an excellent iron source, which in inadequate levels can inhibit ovulation and decrease egg quality, leading to 60% lower chances of achieving pregnancy compared to women with normal iron levels.
  • Salmon: salmon contains selenium, a mineral related to antioxidants production, which has been shown to play a protective role for the egg and sperm against free radicals. It is also necessary for the creation of sperm.
  • Peas: increased levels of zinc, found in large amounts in peas, have been found to improve sperm quality and function. In women, lack of zinc may lead to estrogen and progesterone levels imbalance.
  • Mackerel: it contains the essential fatty acids, like DHA, that contribute to a healthy female reproductive system. DHA has also been associated with enhanced sperm quality.

How many of these superfoods are already included in your diet?

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Mobile phone addiction hurts male fertility

Last modified: April 14, 2017

Mobile phone addiction hurts male fertility, scientists warn! Are you using your phone while charging it? Keeping it in your pocket or perhaps talking on the phone for over an hour daily? Well, if you are a man and these habits sound familiar to you then you are more likely to deal with fertility problems according to new research.

mobile addiction

The sperm quality of men in Western countries keeps decreasing significantly

The sperm quality of men in Western countries keeps decreasing significantly while for approximately 40% of couples struggling to conceive poor sperm quality is the cause of infertility. Heating by electromagnetic activity is to blame for a reduced sperm quality, contributing to increased infertility issues, scientists suggest.

Scientists collected data from 106 men attending a fertility clinic for a year and their study results were published in the journal of Reproductive Biomedicine  Online. They found that men who were talking on their mobile phones for over an hour daily were 50% more likely to have poor quality sperm compared to those who talked less. Moreover, men who used to use their phone while charging it were also two times more likely to suffer subfertility compared to others.
Researchers also reported that 47% of men who tend to keep their mobile phone too close to their body (less than 50 cm) had their sperm and fertilizing potential seriously affected as opposed to only 11% of the general population.

Professor Gedis Grudzinskas, a fertility consult ant St George’s Hospital London and in Harley Street commented that ‘’men should think about their well-being and stop being addicted to their phones’’. ‘’ If you wear a suit to work put the mobile phone in your chest pocket instead of close to your groin. It will decrease the risk of your sperm count dropping’’ he added.

The conclusion of this study is that men who are trying to conceive need to have their mobile phones turned off while charging them or at least keep them, minimum as far as half a meter away. Scientists advise men of reproductive age to pay attention to the study results, considering them as a warning to change their phone habits for standing a better chance when it comes to conception.

So, is hurting fertility enough reason for you to abandon your mobile phone addiction?

Are bald men less fertile?

Last modified: December 4, 2021

Are bald men less fertile? Well they are not as fertile as you may think: men who have lost their hair by the age of 30 have fewer spermatozoa, study reveals.

Even though a common a belief is that baldness is a sign of fertility in men, a new study reveals that men who lose their hair at young age, close to their 30s, might actually be less fertile.

It was estimated that the semen volume was approximately 60% less in men with moderate to more severe hair loss while researchers suggest that hormonal changes related to hair loss may affect the quality of the sperm.

Are bald men less fertile?

The so-called androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss in men

The so-called androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss in men and women while scientists argue that premature AGA could be considered equivalent to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in women. Androgenetic alopecia often turns to baldness and normally it affects about 50% of male population over the age of 50. However in some cases the symptoms could start at the end of adolescence.

In this current study, published in Dermatologica Silica, fertility experts and dermatologists in a collaborative effort, investigated potential links between hair loss, sperm quality and fertility. The doctors collected semen and conducted a series of tests in 203 young men (mean age 31 years old).

Men who participated in the study were classified into 2 groups: normal-mild AGA and moderate-severe AGA in order to investigate the difference in semen quality among the 2 groups.

They found that men with moderate to severe hair loss had their sperm quality in terms concentration, motility and morphology significantly decreased compared to other group, pinpointing bald men as less fertile.

The trend of considering bald men to have increased sexuality is based on the fact they have higher testosterone levels which could possible lead to a more intense sexuality. On the other hand, high testosterone levels is the exact of premature hair loss.

Yet, new research findings indicate that men with low testosterone levels may also lose their hair at a young age and that male baldness is more likely to be caused by a complex combination of both genetic and hormonal factors.

So, what do you think is baldness unattractive?

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