Sperm Care

Most guys just don’t give sperm a second thought. Many men take it for granted that their sperm is perfect and healthy in every way. We bet you’re one of them. If you’ve proven your fertility, then you’re doing a great job so far keeping your balls and general health on the upside. If you haven’t, listen up.

Fertility connotes virility. For one, a healthy lifestyle makes for healthy sperm as well. Equally important to the basic diet, exercise, no alcohol, drugs or caffeine mantra are other caveats to heed to head off infertility. Follow these guidelines and you’ll no doubt be keeping those little buggers up and raring to go for a long time:

• Be aware of rising temperatures down under. Literally.

Keep your family jewels safe but not toasty warm. Studies have shown that an increase of even a third of a degree can have significant negative effects on sperm production. Sperm thrives best at 1-2 degrees below your core temperature of 37ᵒC.

Heat is a no-no to healthy nuts. Hot tubs, hot baths and saunas aren’t especially kind to sperm. Laptops, too, if you use them too literally, that is. You may like the warm and cozy heat down there, which a running laptop generates when balanced on your lap; but believe us, your balls don’t. Not even a pad will adequately insulate your nuts from the heat.

Those whose jobs constantly expose them to extreme heat are prone to have fertility problems. Bakers and ceramic factory workers, for instance, are in the high-risk group for infertility. An occupational study showed that 7.6% of ceramic workers who worked the ovens were childless or were having trouble conceiving for over a year. Only 1.1% of those in the same industry but not exposed to the extreme heat of the ovens were infertile. Results from another study in the baking profession showed a significantly lower proportion (14%) of men able to conceive within three months than of those working in jobs not exposed to heat (55%).

• Dudes, you’ve got a biological clock, too!

Yes, you’ve heard that a number of 80-year olds have fathered children so you think your biological clock isn’t ticking as fast and as loudly as your woman’s. Think again. Male fertility begins to decline after age 40 as sperm quality and motility declines as well. Sperm damage is more prevalent in aging men. Individuals with Down’s syndrome more commonly have parents over the age of 40 at the time of their conception. Autism, schizophrenia and even dwarfism has been linked to aging sperm.

If you’re not ready for fatherhood and you’re already in your late 20’s or early 30’s, it may be worthwhile considering sperm freezing or cryo preservation before you hit 35.

• Always wear your raincoat

Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea, genital warts, syphilis and chlamydia are dangerous and can affect sperm count and motility. Chlamydia, in particular, is sometimes asymptomatic in men so you may not even know you are carrying it. Keep your baby makers safe by wearing condoms. Don’t forget to check on your condoms’ expiry dates.

• Get those Mumps shots

Mumps is a childhood disease but it actually affects men of any age. This viral disease can permanently put a halt to sperm production. Have yourself vaccinated against mumps if you haven’t been immunized before.

Your future progeny depends upon your sperm care. Make sure you’ve got the above down pat, along with a healthy lifestyle and you’ll have nothing to worry about.