by Dr. Adam Seigers, Medical Health Contributor
Pregnancy for most couples conjures happy thoughts of healthy babies and prenatal ultrasounds. Though for many couples infertility can be a trying time. About 50% of the time the cause of infertility is traced to the male with the remaining 50% attributable to the female.
Female infertility usually receives a great deal of attention and discussion and is probably best discussed in conjunction with a gyn physician.
Yet how many men in their twenties, thirties, or forties actually discuss these issues with their wife’s gyn…or their primary care physicians…none.Male infertility is really quite straight forward. It is usually a consequence of either low sperm counts or defective sperm.
As with most things in life, sexual health does not live in a vacuum.
Avoidance of excess is key.
Take for instance alcohol, which decreases a man’s absorption of zinc.
This vital mineral is important for both the development of the sperms tail and for its outer covering.
In addition, alcohol has a proestrogenic effect in men clearly demonstrated in the breast tissue of alcoholic men.
Since everyone likes numbers, excessive alcohol consumption is defined as greater than three drinks per week.
Consuming more than this means lower sperm counts, quality, and greater first trimester pregnancy loss.
For men, additional factors influencing fertility include:
Excessive heat provided by hot tubs saunas and lap tops, over the counter medications for reflux, varicocles (varicose veins in the scrotum), tobacco/ marijuana abuse, a history of sexually transmitted diseases, stress, low testosterone levels, age greater than 35, or being excessively under or over weight.
For more information please contact your primary care provider.
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Dr. Adam Seigers is a physician with Faxton St. Luke’s Adirondack Community Physicians (ACP) Boonville Medical Offices on Route 12.
