Six major factors affecting sperm quality Male infertility is mostly due to semen problems

Sperm is very important for male friends because it directly affects male fertility. In recent years, the decline in sperm quality has led to an increasing number of male patients seeking medical attention due to infertility. In response, male experts believe that even if the sperm count decreases to 20 million per milliliter, it is possible to become pregnant. Therefore, the quality of sperm cannot be simply comprehensively evaluated from the perspective of quantity, and should be considered from three aspects: sperm, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. If the sperm is congenital, the baby will lead to future abnormalities. It can cause pain to families, and if sperm activity is insufficient, it can also seriously affect the quality of the next generation. It can be said that sperm quality determines actual eugenics. In daily life, poor lifestyle seriously affects sperm quality, leading to male infertility.

1. Tobacco and alcohol

Smoking has always been a major enemy of physical health. Large numbers of smokers can increase the content of thiocyanate in semen and inhibit sperm activity. Nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced in tobacco can cause testicular atrophy and sperm morphology changes.

Alcohol has a direct impact on the human liver and male testicles, and long-term or large amounts of alcohol consumption can lead to decreased semen quality.

2. Drugs

Taking drugs, some drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, have an impact on semen quality, which can lead to a decrease in sperm density and the development of male mammary glands. Cocaine can cause a decrease in sperm density.

3. Temperature

The temperature of the testicle is usually 2-3 degrees lower than the normal temperature, which is the key to sperm production. In men, it is recommended to stay in hot environments for as long as possible, and to avoid wearing tight pants.

4. Drugs

Drugs such as anticancer drugs, hormones, and antibiotics can damage the function of the male gonads, causing a decrease in the number and quality of sperm, or affecting the endocrine function of the gonads, leading to sexual dysfunction. "It can affect the normal spermatogenic function of the testis, and unmarried and childless individuals should be particularly careful when choosing.".

5. Living environment

Toxic substances in agricultural fertilizers, decorative materials, as well as feed that allows animals to rapidly increase their fertility, contaminated soil, water sources, etc., all directly or indirectly poison human sperm.

6. Emotions

When dealing with infertility, men should be calm and peaceful psychologically, and should not be overly anxious or depressed. Emotional fluctuations have a significant impact on the generation, maturation, and activity of male sperm, as well as the composition of semen.

Male infertility is often caused by semen problems

There are various causes of male infertility, but they are mainly caused by semen problems and other diseases. Let's make a specific introduction.

1、 Semen or sperm problems

1. Changes in semen pH

The pH of normal semen is * 2 to * 8, and sperm can survive well and move freely at this pH. In chronic prostatitis, the acidic substances in the seminal plasma will increase, resulting in a decrease in the pH value, and the seminal plasma will become acidic. When the pH value decreases to the minimum required pH value for sperm survival * 0 to * 5, sperm will die prematurely, which is not conducive to the normal progress of the reproductive process; White blood cells in the prostate fluid can also increase the pH of the prostate fluid, thereby altering the pH of the seminal plasma, which is also detrimental to sperm survival.

2. Increased semen viscosity and abnormal semen liquefaction

When the prostate has chronic inflammation, the activity or secretion of a large number of liquefied enzymes in the prostate fluid decreases, coagulation factors are relatively increased, and the seminal plasma may contain bacteria, a large number of white blood cells, or even a large amount of pus, making semen not easy to liquefy, and the viscosity of semen will also significantly increase, which is detrimental to the normal activity of sperm.

3. Changes in semen composition

The seminal plasma contains a certain amount of nutrients to support sperm and help sperm movement. During chronic prostatitis, some bacteria and inflammatory cells may be mixed in the seminal plasma, and lactic acid substances may also increase. Bacterial toxins and metabolites are also excreted in the seminal plasma. The survival of bacteria and inflammatory cells also consume a large amount of nutrients and oxygen, making the living environment of sperm extremely harsh, and therefore unable to fully exert its fertility.

4. Changes in sperm density and semen volume

Healthy men ejaculate between 2 and 6 ml per ejaculation, and because the volume of sperm is very small, the amount of semen is basically equal to the amount of seminal plasma. When inflammation occurs in the prostate, a decrease in the secretion of seminal plasma is detrimental to the survival and activity of sperm; On the other hand, the amount of seminal plasma sometimes increases, resulting in a decrease in sperm density and dilution of sperm, which can also affect reproductive function.

2、 Caused by other diseases

1. Changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary gonadal axis

Symptoms of the mental nervous system are often common in patients with chronic prostate disease, especially those who have not recovered for a long time. Patients may have psychosocial problems and changes in personality characteristics. Patients may have insomnia, dreaminess, dizziness, memory loss, inattention, fatigue, weakness, anxiety, and mental depression. These symptoms can lead to changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary gonadal axis, which can lead to increased apoptosis and mortality of germ cells and sperm, which can significantly affect fertility.

2. Sexual dysfunction

Some patients often exhibit psychosexual abnormalities, accompanied by decreased libido and decreased sexual function, resulting in a significant decrease in sexual excitement or activity. Some patients can experience varying degrees of painful erectile and ejaculatory pain, frequent ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation, which affect fertility.

(Intern Editor: Cai Junyi)