7 Habits That Are Decreasing Your Sperm Count

From the unhealthy habits, such as drinking, to the stranger ones, like eating soy, we count down the things men do that decrease sperm productio

Eating Processed Meat: A new study found that processed meat, like sausage or bacon, can significantly harm sperm quality. Harvard University researchers found that men who ate half a portion of processed meat a day had 5.5 percent ‘normal’ shaped sperm cells, compared to 7.2 percent who ate less. Instead, they found that fish may be the secret to better sperm.

Watching TV: The couch isn’t doing much for men’s health as you may have guessed. But, it’s not just his physique and motivation that are at risk from sitting extensively in front of the tv. A study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine confirmed that men who watch a lot of TV have fewer sperm than men who exercise moderately or vigorously each week. Couch potatoes who viewed more than 20 hours of television a week had 44 percent lower sperm count than men who watched almost no television. Time to get moving, fellas.

Drinking: Turns out, the beer belly isn’t the only bad side effect from his favorite beverage. Drinking alcohol can lower testosterone levels, which in turn leads to decreased sperm quality and production. Moderation is key with drinking.

Not Having s*x: While some have said “saving sperm” until a woman is most fertile could help couples who are trying to conceive, it actually has no benefit and can make matters worse. For guys with low sperm counts, abstaining from even one day of s*x can decrease their production even further, according to researchers at Soroka University Medical Centre in Israel. Abstaining from s*x also causes sperm to change in shape, a sign that the sperm is going stale.

Stressing: Stress is bad for numerous emotional and physical reasons, but his fertility is at risk too. Whether he’s anxious about work or even having a low sperm count, severe or prolonged stress can interfere with the production of testosterone. We know some fun stress-busters for you and you guy. Wink, wink.

Eating Soy: A 2008 Harvard School of Public Health study revealed that even half a serving of soy a day was enough to harm a man’s sperm production. Isoflavones, which are found in soy products actually mimic estrogen. More tofu for you.

Using His Laptop & Cell Phone: As addicted as he may be to his two favorite pieces of technology, it might be best for his sperm count to avoid using them for long periods of time. Researchers warn that the heat given off from laptops may increase the temperature in his scrotum and reduce sperm production. In 2008, a study revealed a strong association between cell phone use and sperm count, saying that those who talked for four or more hours had fewer, weaker sperm. More recently, it was discovered that men who carry their phones in their pocket or on their belt were more likely to have fewer, inactive sperm.

Source: Mens Health