Lifestyle and medical factors that influence male fertility

Let’s talk about all the fathers to be. There is plenty of information for women on how they can improve their fertility, chances for conception and having a healthy baby, but the same can’t be said for men. However, it is important to appreciate that dad’s sperm is just as important when it comes to making a healthy baby. About 1 in 20 men have low numbers of sperm which can result in infertility and about 1 in every 100 men have no sperm at all.

Research further suggests that the father’s age and his health at the time of conception can also affect the chance of his partner falling pregnant. Below you will find information that our dad’s-to-be need to know in order to give your baby the best start in life.

The quality and health of a man's sperm can be affected by:

• Age at time of conception
• Being overweight
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Environmental toxins
• Heat
• Injury
• Smoking and using recreational drugs such as anabolic steroids

Age at time of conception

Women are born with the amount of eggs they will ever produce whereas men can produce sperm throughout their lives, which means men can often conceive a child potentially late into adult life. It is important to note however that the quality of those little swimmers seems to decline when a healthy male, with no underlying health conditions turns forty-five. Some studies have also concluded that, while rare, autism and other mental health problems are slightly more common in children with older fathers.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Increased weight in men has been associated with a lower testosterone level, poorer sperm quality, a lower sex drive and reduced fertility as compared to men of healthy weight range. Infertility is thought to increase by 10% for every

9kg (20 pounds) that a man is overweight. Paternal obesity can also affect the health of the baby as it influences the environment where sperm mature (which can alter the genes that are passed on to the child from the father at the time of conception).

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

STIs can also cause infertility in men. The process can be similar to how PID damages a woman's fallopian tubes. The structures of the male reproductive tract, including the epididymis and urethra, can be damaged by infection with untreated STIs. Make sure you get the all clear from your healthcare provided prior to trying to conceive.

Environmental Toxins

As part of daily life and in some work environments we are exposed to many toxic substances and pollutants. Some of these environmental toxins can affect a man’s sperm and can even have a potential impact on his children’s health and development.

Environmental factors that are known to have a detrimental effect on the male reproductive health include: pesticides, heavy metals, harmful plastics, radiation, recreational drugs and anabolic steroids.

Ensure you try and avoid your exposure to these toxins and chemicals as much as possible.

Heat

Testicles need to be a few degrees cooler than the rest of the body to produce good quality sperm. The testicles sit in the scrotum which helps to keep them at a lower temperature than the rest of the male body. If heat is continuously applied around the testicles, the quality of the sperm can be affected.

You can keep your testes cool by:

• Wearing loose-fitting underwear rather than tight fitting ones
• Avoiding regular, very hot baths, saunas or hot-tubs
• Keeping electronic devices (that produce warm air such as your laptop) away from your lap

Injury

There are a number of ways that testicular trauma can lead to male infertility. Being kicked or hit in the testicular area can cause scars which may result in reduced or halted sperm production. If you play any type of contact sport, always remember to wear protection.

Recreational drug use, smoking and anabolic steroids

Cigarette smoke and cannabis contain thousands of harmful chemicals that cause damage to all parts of the body, including sperm. Smoking changes the environment where sperm mature and this can lead to epigenetic changes which increase the risk of health problems in children born to fathers who smoke. Heavy smoking by fathers during the time of conception also increases the chances of the baby getting medical conditions such as leukemia. In addition, using anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass stops the production of sperm and may have other serious side effects. So, if you want to be a dad one day, it's never too early to start looking after your sperm.

The only way to protect your future baby is to quit any and all harmful substances at least four months prior to conception. Speak to your healthcare team for advice and information about helpful resources on how to quit.