What we keep doing is actually a sperm killer

Improper diet

A rich diet can provide nutrients necessary for sperm production, such as various proteins, calcium, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, VitA and VitE. If you are picky about food, you may lack these essential substances, which may lead to a decrease in sperm quantity and quality. Long-term zinc/selenium deficiency can lead to decreased male fertility, decreased sperm count, increased malformation rate, and increased risk of embryo malformations. Foods rich in zinc include walnut kernels, pork liver, soybeans, green vegetables, dried kelp, peanuts, dried shrimps, cuttlefish, etc. Studies have confirmed that proper zinc and selenium supplementation can improve sperm motility, sperm morphology, and increase fertilization ability.

Excessive fatigue, long-distance cycling

The perineum and scrotum are in a squeezed state for a long time, which affects the secretion of the prostate and seminal vesicles on the one hand; on the other hand, the testicles are in a state of ischemia for a long time, or even minor trauma. These can all affect semen quality.

Bad mental state

Excessive psychological pressure, prolonged tension, depression, anxiety, pessimism and sadness can all lead to decreased semen quality, spermatogenesis dysfunction and reduced pregnancy rate.

Sitting for long periods of time

Sitting for long periods of time is the most common bad lifestyle habit currently. Those who sit for more than 8 hours a day for more than a year will experience a significant decline in semen quality. For those who have had poor semen quality for more than three years, about 46% have it. At the same time, the study also found that changing lifestyle habits, abandoning long-term sitting, increasing the amount of exercise, and exercising every day (brisk or slow walking, jogging, swimming, ball games, etc.) are beneficial to improving sperm quality.

Smoking

Cigarette smoke contains mutagens that cause sperm mutations. It can not only cause damage to the genetic material of somatic cells, but also affect the maturation and proliferation of germ cells through the blood-testis barrier, leading to increased sperm DNA chain breakage and an increase in sperm deformity rate.

alcoholism

Ethanol has a significant damaging effect on sperm density, vitality, live rate, morphology and fertilization ability. The degree of impairment is closely related to the age of initiation of drinking, the amount of drinking, and the duration of drinking. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning, causing testicular atrophy, loss of libido, increased sperm deformity rate, and decreased total number and density. The sperm survival rate of chronic alcoholics is less than 80%, and the sperm deformity rate can be as high as 83%. The harm caused by drinking before the age of 18 is significantly greater than that of adults who drink after the age of 18.

Ethanol may indirectly affect sperm by affecting the synthesis of sex hormones, or directly damage the spermatogenic epithelial cells of the seminiferous tubules of the testicles, causing degeneration of the gonads, decreased testicular spermatogenesis, and even atrophy. Ethanol also has a direct effect on sperm, causing changes in sperm morphology including head shedding, mid-neck swelling, tail curling, and sperm agglutination. Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular-gonadal axis dysfunction caused by drinking can lead to testicular atrophy, abnormal sperm activation, differentiation, development, and abnormal sperm quantity, morphology, and function.

Inappropriate frequency of sexual activity

Appropriate frequency of sexual intercourse is not only beneficial to the physical health and psychological balance of both men and women, but also can improve semen quality and increase the chance of conception. However, too frequent sexual intercourse will reduce the density and number of sperm, affecting the spouse's conception. It is not like "hard work pays off" as some friends mistakenly believe. Of course, too infrequent sexual intercourse will also affect the spouse's conception. In addition, if you do not have sex or ejaculate for a long time, sperm motility and fertilization ability will also decrease. It is not the case that the longer you abstain from sex, the better the sperm quality. WHO recommends that the quality of semen after 2-7 days of abstinence can best reflect the true fertility of men at this stage.