Five Everyday Activities That Can Hurt Your Sperm Count

Healthy sperm is something that men may not think about until they and their partner decide to build their family. In cases of infertility, women are typically the first to be tested weeks or even months before the male partner is considered. Many are surprised to learn that one-third of infertility cases are attributed to men – the same statistical percentage of infertility cases attributed to women. The remaining third is actually attributed to an unknown cause, referred to as “unexplained” infertility.

Thoughtful care regarding sperm health is important, especially since sperm health is correlated to overall health. You may not even realize that some of your everyday habits are hurtful to your sperm count. Below, the Fertility Center of California (FCC) shares five surprising everyday activities that hurt sperm count with male patients, many of whom are surprised to learn that these normal things are negatively impacting the health of their sperm.

1. Overdoing it at the gym – Exercise is important for your sperm’s health, but when it’s too intense or even extreme, it can harm your sperm count. Our partners at the Male Fertility Specialists provide a full breakdown of how your workout routine can make you infertile here.

2. Heat – We all know that laptops and other electronic devices can heat up after extended use, sometimes to the point where it’s uncomfortable to touch with your hand. If a device is too hot to touch with your hand, it’s too hot to be near your groin. Yes, you may not notice how hot your electronics become because of the buffer formed by your pants, but this heat can be damaging to sperm. This same logic can be applied to frequent or extended time spent in a hot tub.

3. Tobacco use – If you need one additional reason to finally give up smoking for good, think about your fertility. Cigarette smoking has been linked to decreased sperm quality.

4. Inactivity and junk food– Moderation in diet and exercise is something your provider will advise for quality long-term health, but fertility specialists will suggest the same because your weight can impact your ability to conceive.

5. Medication – If you’re trying to conceive, talk to your provider about whether any medications you are currently taking can affect fertility. Certain medicines such as antidepressants can potentially have a negative impact on fertility. The same can be said for cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.