What are the factors that affect sperm quality? Male infertility is often caused by semen problems

Sperm is very important for male friends because it directly affects male fertility. In recent years, the decline in sperm quality has led to an increasing number of male patients seeking medical attention due to infertility. Regarding this, male experts believe that even if the sperm count decreases to 20 million per milliliter, it is still possible to conceive. Therefore, the quality of sperm can not be simply evaluated from the quantity, but from the three aspects of sperm, sperm motility and sperm morphology. If the sperm is congenital malformation, the baby will lead to future malformations. Causing pain to families, if the activity of sperm is insufficient, it will also seriously affect the quality of the next generation. It can be said that the quality of sperm determines the actual eugenics. Poor lifestyle in daily life seriously affects sperm quality, and in severe cases, it can lead to male infertility.

1. Tobacco and alcohol

Smoking has always been a major threat to physical health. Large numbers of smokers can increase the content of thiocyanate in semen and inhibit sperm motility. Nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced in tobacco can cause testicular atrophy and changes in sperm morphology.

Alcohol has a direct impact on the human liver and male testes, and long-term or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a decrease in semen quality.

2. Drugs

Smoking drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, can have an impact on semen quality, leading to a decrease in sperm density and the development of male mammary glands. Cocaine can cause a decrease in sperm density.

3. Temperature

The temperature of the testicles is usually 2-3 degrees lower than normal body temperature, which is the key factor for sperm production. Men should stay in high temperature environments for as long as possible and avoid wearing tight pants.

4. Medications

Drugs such as anticancer drugs, hormones, and antibiotics can damage male gonadal function, causing a decrease in sperm quantity and quality, or affecting the endocrine function of the gonads, leading to sexual dysfunction. It can affect the normal spermatogenic function of the testicles, and unmarried and childless individuals should be extra careful when choosing.

5. Living environment

The toxic substances in agricultural fertilizers, decorative materials, feed that quickly increases animal fat, contaminated soil, water sources, etc., all directly or indirectly poison human sperm.

6. Emotions

Men should be calm and calm psychologically when dealing with infertility, and should not be overly anxious or melancholic. Emotional fluctuations have a significant impact on the generation, maturation, and motility of male sperm, as well as the composition of semen.

Male infertility is often caused by semen problems

There are various causes of male infertility, but the main ones are semen problems and other diseases. Below, the editor will provide a specific introduction.

1、 Semen or sperm problems

1. Changes in semen acidity and alkalinity

The pH of normal semen ranges from 2 to 8, and sperm survive well and move freely at this pH. In chronic prostatitis, the acidic substances in the seminal plasma will increase, leading to a decrease in acidity and alkalinity. The seminal plasma tends to be acidic. When the acidity and alkalinity decrease to the minimum pH value required for sperm survival * 0-* 5, sperm will die prematurely, which is not conducive to the normal reproductive process; The white blood cells in prostatic fluid will also increase the pH value of prostatic fluid, and therefore change the pH of seminal plasma, which is not conducive to the survival of sperm.

2. Increased semen viscosity and abnormal semen liquefaction

When the prostate has chronic inflammation, the activity or secretion of a large number of liquefaction enzymes in prostatic fluid decreases, coagulation factors increase relatively, and seminal plasma may contain bacteria, a large number of white blood cells, or even a large amount of pus, making semen difficult to liquefy, and semen viscosity will also increase significantly, which is detrimental to normal sperm activity.

3. Changes in semen composition

Seminal plasma contains a certain amount of nutrients to support sperm and assist in sperm motility. In chronic prostatitis, there may be some bacteria and inflammatory cells mixed in the seminal plasma, and lactic acid substances may also increase. Bacterial toxins and metabolites are also excreted in the seminal plasma. The survival of bacteria and inflammatory cells also consume a large amount of nutrients and oxygen, making the living environment of sperm extremely harsh, and therefore unable to fully exert their fertility.

4. Changes in sperm density and semen volume

Healthy men ejaculate between 2-6ml per ejaculation, and since the volume of sperm is extremely small, the amount of semen is basically equal to the amount of seminal plasma. When inflammation occurs in the prostate, a decrease in the secretion of seminal plasma is not conducive to the survival and activity of sperm; On the other hand, the amount of seminal plasma can sometimes increase, leading to a decrease in sperm density and dilution, which can also affect fertility.

2、 Caused by other diseases

1. Changes in the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis

Chronic prostate patients, especially those who have not recovered for a long time, often experience symptoms of the mental nervous system. The patient may have mental and psychological problems and changes in personality characteristics. The patient may have insomnia, dreaminess, dizziness, memory loss, inattention, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. These symptoms can lead to changes in the hypothalamus pituitary gonad axis, and can cause an increase in apoptotic mortality of germ cell and sperm, which can significantly affect fertility.

2. Sexual dysfunction

Some patients often exhibit sexual psychological abnormalities, accompanied by decreased libido and decreased sexual function, resulting in a significant decrease in sexual excitement or activity. Some patients may experience varying degrees of painful erectile and ejaculatory pain, frequent ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, etc., thus affecting fertility.

(Intern Editor: Cai Junyi)