Prof. Hagi Levin, sperm count research/Hebrew University
Maybe you think you already know everything about the male sperm, but there are many, many facts, some of them quite amazing, that are important to know:
1. In an average ejaculation there are 200 million sperm.
The man's ejaculate includes the seminal fluid originating from the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles and the spermatozoa formed in the testicles.
The seminal fluid contains protein, sugars, vitamins and minerals.
The average ejaculate volume, which includes the seminal fluid and semen, is the size of half a teaspoon.
If we add the length of all the sperms in one ejaculation we will reach 10 kilometers.
2. Wearing tight underwear may harm the sperm count and fertility.
Bringing the testicles closer to the body causes them to heat up and may damage the sperm, therefore the scrotum has the ability to contract and expand so that the sperm can develop at the optimal temperature, which happened to be several degrees above body temperature.
Although there is no unequivocal scientific proof, sitting for a long time, wearing tight underwear and going to the sauna frequently are actions that raise the temperature of the scrotum and may result in damage to sperm quality.
For a man with normal sperm production, there is no prohibition against wearing tight underwear, but it's worth changing to boxer briefs as well.
On the other hand, men who have a fertility problem are recommended to switch to wide underwear.
3. Smoking and alcohol can damage sperm quality.
Smoking has a negative effect on sperm production, destruction of nucleic acids in sperm and over-oxidation.
The sperm of men who smoke has a reduced fertility and lower chances of implantation of the embryo.
Also exposing the fetus to the mother's smoking may lead to damage to his sperm production as an adult male.
The damage is reversible if the man stops smoking.
Drinking a lot of alcohol is also a risk factor and may damage the normal production of the sperm.
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4. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits and fish may improve sperm quality.
Reducing fats in the diet and reducing consumption of meat will also contribute to improvement.
Soy products containing a large amount of estrogens may also affect the hormonal pool of sperm production.
5. Drinking sugary drinks over 1 liter a day, combined with managing an unhealthy lifestyle, may damage sperm quality.
6. The quality of sperm decreases with increasing age.
It is true that men can give birth to children even in old age, such as Robert De Niro, Richard Gere and Mike Jagger, but it is important to know that the quality of the sperm is damaged mainly due to a gradual decrease in the testosterone hormone and other factors.
7. Frequent use of a cell phone may harm sperm quality and fertility.
Studies show that using the mobile phone causes a significant decrease in sperm motility and vitality.
Among men who place their cell phones in their pockets and belts, damage to the sperm quality, its oxidative reactivity, motility and DNA integrity of the spermatozoa was observed.
It is also important to keep the mobile phone away while charging and make sure to talk through a speakerphone.
In conclusion, studies show that in recent years there has been a 50-60 percent drop in sperm counts worldwide.
The main reasons for this are climate factors, radiation from the mobile/laptop, stress, processed food, medicines and more.
Our recommendation - be sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, avoid smoking and prolonged use of a cell phone.
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