We all know smoking is terrible for health – and that is true with reproductive health as it is in other areas. A 2016 report from the journal European Urology looked at studies on smoking and the health of semen. Looking at the cases of more than 5000 European men, the research determined that smoking led to lower sperm movement, poor shape (or morphology) of the sperm, and lower sperm count.

High paternal age

During the 2000s, the age of the father has increased, on average, for new births. Women who are older than 35 are likelier to experience difficulties (infertility, complications with pregnancy, miscarriage, etc.), and that is probably a more common topic of public discussion. However, higher paternal age can also lead to a greater chance of congenital disease and infertility.

Paternal age is a significant factor in reducing the quality of ejaculate (specifically, the motility or activeness of sperm, and its volume). The reason that is the case is a matter for debate; examples issues include poor functioning of the seminal vesicle (leading to loss in volume and possibly issues with the prostate), prostate degradation (loss of protein and water, in turn lowering volume and motility). Research from Kidd et al. found that as the man gets older, the volume of semen declines, morphology or form may become inconsistent, and activeness may be reduced, but the actual concentration of sperm within the semen will not necessarily go down. That study looked at two age groups, 30 and 50 years old. Among those who were in the older group, there was a reduction in amount (3-22% reduced), motion (3-37% reduced), and form changeability (4-18% reduced).

DNA fragmentation / low antioxidants

Abnormal protamine compaction and abnormal protamination might cause the DNA to become damaged within sperm. These problems occur because there are histones that fail to become protamines. Protamine deficiency results. That scenario applies to 15% of cases. The #1 reason that you will see DNA fragmentation, though – present in an incredible 80% of cases – is because of oxidative stress. That stress takes place when there are insufficient reserves of antioxidants – so get those in your diet – or when more reactive oxygen species are generated. The oxidative impact means that a man becomes at greater risk of experiencing chronic inflammation or an infection.

You can damage your DNA because PARP and caspase3 become activated. PARP-1 is also known to cause other problems, such as facilitating nucleosome binding (which leads to the creation of chromatin structures that are “transcriptionally repressed,” according to Sharma et al). Also in the presence of PARP-1, additional protamines cause the nucleus to become compacted, and the nucleus may be restructured. Apoptosis is activated in these situations. None of this is good.

Research from Moskovtsev et al. demonstrated that when semen became abnormal in men who were infertile, that aligns with DNA damage. DNA damage has also been shown by various studies to be linked to higher paternal age. One way that DNA abnormalities are studied is through the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). When the DFI was used for analysis in comparing men who were under age 30 to men who were 45 or over, the figure was more than double among the older than the younger group (32.0% vs. 15.2%). The DFI was 26.4%, 201.%, and 19.4% for members of older to younger age brackets (40-45 years, 35-40 years, and 30-35 years).

Other research, completed by Singh et al., found that the amount of significantly damaged DNA sperm was substantially higher among an older than a younger group studied (36-57 years vs. 20-35 years).

Finally, a study that looked at 215 couples analyzed paternal age of 55 vs. 25. Again, DFI increased with age. As indicated by all these studies, this cause is well-established.

Testosterone harm

Supplementing with testosterone is a way to improve sex drive in men, but it can also make it less likely that the man will be able to father a child.

A large portion of the men who looked for help at two American-based infertility clinics studied had been taking testosterone supplements. The majority of them saw a much higher sperm count once they stopped taking testosterone.

The research was based on clinics in Kansas and Alabama, with data that was collected between 2005 and 2011.

Getting help for infertility

Are you suffering from issues with male infertility? At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we are a board-certified specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. “I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Mor and his office!” said one of our patients. See our testimonials.