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Men less and less often treat preventive and diagnostic tests as a sign of weakness. And only in one of them are they virtually non-reformable – they will not test semen. And already.
Partly due to the fashion for being fit, and partly because of the male nature eager for challenges and the pursuit of perfection, men began to take more care of themselves. Their graphics featured gyms, bikes and healthy food. They measure performance, analyze body composition, check cholesterol and blood pressure. Only his masculinity is not subject to verification. More precisely – the ability to produce offspring. Here, the vast majority of gentlemen are intransigent. Why should I test if I’m ok? – they tell themselves.
According to the report of the Fertile Pole, developed by the Interactive Institute for Market Research, commissioned by the Stork Infertility Treatment Clinic, as much as 93 percent. men have never had semen tested, while performing daily activities that negatively affect its quality and reduce the chance of being a father.
Infertility is almost an epidemic
There are more and more infertile couples and doctors agree on this. – The frequency of diagnosis of male infertility has increased in recent years, which is a result of the gradual deterioration of sperm quality in men. It is estimated that approx. 15-20 percent. couples may have difficulties conceiving a child, and in approx. 40 percent the reason for this will lie with the man – explains Michał Kunicki, MD, PhD, gynecologist from the INVICTA Infertility Treatment Clinic in Warsaw. – Male fertility is influenced by many factors – including lifestyle, stress, working conditions, eating habits, i.e. those elements that we have influence on. It is worth remembering about this, even before trying to get pregnant and taking care of yourself properly – adds the specialist.
Why test semen?
– The result of the semen analysis in combination with this information allows the doctor to determine the reproductive potential of a man and rule out the most basic causes of difficulties in conceiving a child. If the analysis shows no abnormalities, an in-depth diagnosis, including hormonal and genetic tests, is usually proposed. – explains Michał Kunicki, MD, PhD, gynecologist from the INVICTA Infertility Treatment Clinic in Warsaw. But the test allows not only to exclude or detect infertility, it also provides knowledge about the condition of the sperm and the whole organism. Thanks to it, we are able to look into sperm DNA, learning, for example, the risk of genetic diseases that we can pass on to a child. You can also detect inflammation of the prostate gland or inflammation of the seminal vesicles at an early stage. Cultures and an antibiogram, which are often included in the diagnosis of semen, allow the detection of bacteria and fungi.
Semen analysis – simple and painless
Semen testing is the basic test for every man, such as a blood or urine test. The semen donation itself takes place in an intimate, closed and separate room of the clinic. For clinic or laboratory employees, such tests are everyday life. It is also neither painful nor invasive, but allows you to make a wide spectrum of health assessment, both for the male sperm and the entire male organism. And most importantly: it saves a lot of time, stress, pain and money for your partner, because the diagnosis of female infertility costs tens of thousands of zlotys. Often unnecessarily, because of his stubbornness and displacement of the problem.
– After four years of marriage, we decided that it was time for a child – says Bartek from Warsaw. We were thirty-six. We figured it was time. But it turned out to be not that simple. She was going to research, trying to get me. I denied it. I exercise, I don’t smoke, I eat healthy. My brothers have children, why would something be wrong with me? We stopped getting along, I thought that I don’t want this child anymore, why do I need this whole circus? We broke up – he recalls.
This is no embarrassment
A man with fertility problems should not treat the problem as a personal failure in life. We live in such times that unfavorable changes appear throughout our body. Diabetes, autoimmune diseases, allergies, depression – these are changes that affect the entire body, and the reproductive system is a part of it, not detached from the rest, an independent device for the production of sperm. It is even more delicate than many other body structures, because it is highly vascularized and dependent on the hormonal economy – extremely sensitive to changes in the environment, what we eat and what we experience.
As much as 87 percent Poles see no reasons why it should undergo prophylactic semen analysis. Only a few percent would be interested in the results. men – according to a survey among men conducted last year by the Gyncentrum clinic in Katowice. The reason in 89 percent. cases, it is a shame before visiting a clinic or laboratory, and in 79 percent. fear of the result. Meanwhile, experts urge – every man should undergo such a test at least once in his life.
– Such a test should be performed by men who think about a child in the future, not only those who are already applying for it. What’s more, men who already have children and are planning more should submit to it. Especially 40-year-olds, as well as heavy smokers or those who are exposed to harmful factors, e.g. toxins, damaging sperm DNA.
This risk group also includes men who lead a sedentary lifestyle, who have undergone procedures in the reproductive system, have undergone testicular torsion, cryptorchidism or therapy with sex steroids.
Superhero Syndrome, meaning home, tree and son
Many gentlemen are afraid of being considered as incapable of producing a child. The saying… every man should build a house, plant a tree and have a son still works. This pressure is usually not fully realized by men, and yet it is and can be worrying. Hence the belief that – nomen omen – the core of masculinity is the ability to leave a successor. The man may therefore be concerned about the semen analysis. If the result turns out to be incorrect, it may expose him in his own eyes to a sense of shame that he did not live up to social expectations. Self-esteem drops, frustration appears.
Once they hear that the examination is necessary, they find plenty of excuses not to go to the clinic or at least delay this dramatic fact. Dramatic, because after all, nothing will be the same as it used to be – someone overstepped the boundaries, questioned their ability to extend the genre. Rational arguments are often unconvincing.
– My husband excused himself with the excess of work, duties that he had to gain or he provoked quarrels, after which he was offended and felt released from any promises – recalls Magda from Warsaw. – It took four years. In the end, without telling anyone, he went and did some research. It turned out that the results are normal. Only at that time I developed cysts requiring surgery and menstrual disorders. And I turned forty. The prognosis for motherhood is bleak.
Where does this male resistance come from?
The blockage is still a shame. Men are concerned about the test results, the test itself and embarrassing stares. The very thought of having to donate semen in the laboratory is embarrassing for 90 percent. men. In addition, he may be paralyzed by the prospect of the need for further treatment, subsequent visits that may occur as a consequence of the examination.
In such situations, it is worth convincing a man that the result, even if it is not the best, has nothing to do with masculinity or the lack of it. It is rather reluctance to perform the test that is unfamiliar, because it proves that the man is ignoring his health condition. Besides – it heals!
He is also afraid of the mere donation of sperm in the laboratory: that the conditions will not be intimate and the process of donating sperm will be stressful. What if he fails to donate his sperm and has to explain himself to the staff? God forbid, meeting a friend in front of the clinic … To overcome these fears, you can check the conditions in a given clinic in advance, you can read patients’ opinions on internet forums.
Do it yourself – at home
An alternative for those men who are overwhelmed by going to the laboratory is to offer to donate the sperm at home and bring it to the laboratory. As a last resort, someone can do it for them. You just have to remember about the guidelines, e.g. fast transport to the laboratory, keeping the temperature close to body temperature. A special Male Factor Pak condom may also be a helpful solution in this case. It allows you to donate semen during intercourse – it cannot be more comfortable. For those who want to stand face to face with test results without witnesses, there is a home test called Fertil Count. It allows you to establish an approximate number of sperm in a semen. The test contains all the materials needed to perform two analyzes by yourself. According to the manufacturer, the effectiveness is 97%. The price of the set (2 tests) is PLN 139. There are also tests available on the market that allow to determine not only the concentration of sperm, but also their mobility, e.g. the Fertility Score test (PLN 89).
Semen under a magnifying glass
Although men are not aware of it, they do things every day that they should not do to care for the quality of sperm. For example:
Tyja. Research shows that overweight and obesity negatively affect the quality of sperm chromatin, the number of sperm with a normal structure and mobility, the number of sperm, and their functionality (the ability to bind with hyaluronic acid, one of the components of the ovum envelope).
They overheat. This applies both to the temperature outside (holidays in the tropics) and inside the body, e.g. caused by diseases accompanied by high fever. The testes are not accidentally placed in the scrotum, i.e. outside the body. Their temperature is 1-2 ° C lower than inside the body. Even short-term increases in body temperature several weeks before the semen analysis can cause numerous abnormalities in its quality. For example, it is known that diseases accompanied by high fever (e.g. influenza) decrease the quality of sperm a few weeks after the illness. Also harmful: frequent hot baths, frequent visits to the sauna, wearing windproof underwear, sitting work.
They poison the body. This applies to the effects of chemicals, including heavy metals, chlorine-containing organic compounds, pesticides. Although the mechanisms of the negative effects of these compounds on sperm production may be different, exposure to high doses or prolonged action may cause such a negative effect.
They live under stress. Although it may seem that the measurement of the level of stress and its impact on health, including the quality of sperm, is difficult to assess, there are studies and reports that stress may contribute to a reduction in the quality of sperm, mainly the number and concentration (concentration). sperm as well as their morphology. Scientists observing the reduction in the quality of sperm in these studies took into account various types of stress, including the so-called socioeconomic stress (job loss, bad family relations, loss of a loved one), but also, for example, stress of students caused by university exams.
They use drugs. Some drugs are toxic to the sperm production process, damaging them irreversibly. This applies, inter alia, to drugs used in chemotherapy. These drugs irreversibly destroy the cells that produce sperm. Some antidepressants can interfere with semen transport and damage it. In addition, after three months of taking antidepressants, a sharp but temporary decrease in the number of sperm in semen, as well as abnormalities in their structure, was observed. It takes about 70 days to restore the entire sperm stock.
They don’t treat infections. Infections in the genitourinary system can lead to inflammation of the testicles, epididymis, prostate, seminal vesicles. Inflammation can cause a range of disorders that can lead to infertility or to a significant reduction in fertility. Infections with protozoa, yeast and bacteria, including chlamydia and mycoplasmas, may contribute to infertility.
They can’t live without a cigarette. Numerous scientific studies show the negative impact of smoking on sperm count, agility and sperm structure. Particularly negative impact is revealed in smokers a packet a day or more. The probable cause of this condition is increased oxidative stress and insufficient activity of antioxidant enzymes in the sperm plasma.
They overuse alcohol. Excessive and frequent consumption of alcohol may contribute to the damage of sperm-forming activity not directly, but indirectly, e.g. by disrupting the functions of other organs, including the liver. On the other hand, the occasional consumption of a small amount of weaker alcohol, such as wine or beer, may have a positive effect on semen quality. Therefore, moderation is recommended.
They forgot where the dentist was visiting. German scientists have shown a direct relationship between the occurrence of caries and gingivitis, and asymptomatic bacteriospermia, which is likely to lead to fertility disorders. Rotten teeth, in addition to the habitats of bacteria, can be foci of infection causing changes in distant organs. The researchers identified the same bacteria in the semen that were found in caries-infected teeth and in the deep gingival pockets around the teeth. Six months after the end of treatment and scrupulous care for oral hygiene, about two-thirds of the tested semen samples were free from bacteria, and sperm motility, density and morphology had clearly improved.
They improve the muscles with nutrients. Sex steroids are sometimes used as anabolics, which is unfortunately quite common among gym goers who want to additionally increase their muscle mass. The use of these agents causes hormonal disturbances leading to a decrease in the size of the testicles and disrupts sperm production. Increased levels of testosterone in the blood inhibit testosterone production by the testes. In turn, the lack of nuclear testosterone causes disturbances in sperm production, despite the fact that the amount of testosterone circulating in the bloodstream is higher than normal.
They eat whatever and whatever. The content of certain vitamins (e.g. vitamin C and B vitamins) and microelements (e.g. zinc) as well as antioxidants (including vitamin C, fiber, folic acid) is important for the quality of semen. These ingredients can be provided by using a well-composed daily diet or by additionally using special dietary supplements. In addition, some chemical compounds occurring not only in the polluted environment, cleaning agents and artificial fertilizers, but most of all in food additives, can reduce the quality of semen.
They live under stress. Under the influence of stress, the amount and motility of sperm can be reduced. This stress can be exacerbated when a man is unable to cope with his emotions of having to undergo semen testing. Worse well-being, blaming yourself, quarrels in the relationship, fear, anger, frustration. It is worth taking care of the right amount of sleep, daily activity and relaxation. And then I go to research.
Do you know that…
In 1995, the results of a study were presented showing how the parameters of sperm (sample volume, number, mobility and structure of sperm) changed from 1973 to 1992 among healthy sperm donors at one of the sperm banks in Paris. The results showed that while the mean semen volume did not change over the 20 years, other parameters such as sperm count, mobility and the percentage of normal sperm cells deteriorated. Sperm counts worsened by an average of 2,1% per year, mobility by 0,6% per year, and construction by 0,5% per year.
Worth knowing
Men, like women, need folic acid. The study published in the journal Human Reproduction shows that men with a diet high in folic acid had more normal sperm than those whose diet was low in this acid.