Factors That Reduce the Chances of Becoming a Father

Male infertility causes include low sperm count, reduced sperm motility and varicocele. Prof. Dr. Abdulmuttalip Şimşek from the Urology Department at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital provided information about the frequency and causes of male infertility today.

Approximately 15% of couples in the country face infertility issues. Among the causes are biological factors as well as late-age marriage, environmental factors and limited access to healthcare services. In the infertility process, there may be causes related to men, factors related to women, or problems stemming from both partners.

Varicocele is the most common cause of male infertility
Varicocele is described as the known most important cause of male infertility. Varicocele is the clinical term for varicose-like enlargement of testicular veins in the legs. It is a condition where testicular temperature and blood flow are disrupted, toxic substances in impure blood accumulate in the testis, and testicular functions are affected, which disrupts sperm and testosterone production. Additionally, varicocele can cause discomfort or pain, leading to poor testicular development, low sperm production or infertility. To resolve these complications, surgical intervention in varicocele treatment is recommended. Microscopic varicocelectomy can comfortably treat this problem.

However, recently cases have been seen where the cause of infertility cannot be found in either sex despite all tests being performed. This indicates that environmental and individual factors may also be causes of infertility.

Cigarette smoke alone affects infertility
The male reproductive system shows serious sensitivity to various chemical and physical agents. These agents are generally found widely in occupational and environmental settings. Main environmental factors include radiation exposure, sedentary lifestyle, continuously used medications, heavy smoking and alcohol consumption, toxins such as lead, arsenic and hydrocarbons, intense heat increases in the testis (sauna, bathhouse or high-temperature bathing), intake of various hormones (particularly in gyms).

Approximately 40-50% of men in reproductive age use cigarettes. Cigarette smoke contains different types of chemical compounds such as carbon monoxide and cadmium. These substances are known to have negative effects on the male reproductive system. At the same time, research has shown that smoking causes changes in the body's prolactin (stress hormone), LH and testosterone hormone levels. Smoking is known to negatively affect sperm development.

Different assessments have shown that in sperm damage due to varicocele, which is the most common cause of treatable infertility, there is increasing deterioration in spermiogram parameters (count, motility, morphology) and a decrease in pregnancy rates with smoking consumption rates. As smoking consumption increases, sperm motility rates, morphological structure and sperm chromosomal structure deteriorate.

Watch out for alcohol consumption!
Heavy alcohol consumption in men impairs both physical and mental well-being and can also lead to negative conditions such as impotence (erectile dysfunction), testicular atrophy, enlargement of male breast tissue (gynecomastia) and decreased sexual desire. These effects are less seen with short-term or sporadic alcohol consumption. Alcohol also disrupts the axis between the brain and testis, impairing hormone production.

As a result, sperm motility decreases and defective sperm are produced. In alcoholics, alcohol has a toxic effect on FSH hormone, which stimulates the testes for sperm cell production, reducing spermatogenesis function. Another effect of alcohol is anejaculation. This means no sperm cells are released during ejaculation. This triggers the occurrence of infertility.

Technology use can prevent parenthood
Technological devices are increasing with each passing day and while they make our lives easier, on the other hand they can cause serious damage to our health. Many of these technological devices are sources of electromagnetic radiation. This radiation generally causes harm through thermal effects. Computers, mobile phones, televisions and radios, which we frequently use in our daily lives, emit electromagnetic radiation. These show biological, thermal, genetic and carcinogenic effects. Mobile phone addiction has become an inseparable part of our daily lives.

Mobile phones are generally carried near the testes in the lower back area, which increases the risk of male infertility. A study found a relationship between mobile phone usage time and deterioration of sperm parameters. According to this, while there is no deterioration in individuals who do not use phones at all, in those using them for 2 hours or more, there was a significant decrease in sperm count, morphology (sperm size, shape, appearance) and motility rates.

In conclusion, considering that technological devices, particularly mobile phones and computers, are heavily used from childhood onwards, it is estimated that they have an important place in male infertility. For this reason, measures that can be taken include limiting phone usage time, particularly in men, keeping it away from the testes and choosing to live as far away as possible from cell phone base stations.

Obesity and insufficient caloric intake can create conditions for infertility
One of the important issues in male infertility is eating habits. Adequate and balanced nutrition for body health is a preventive factor for any disease. Additionally, body weight is also a factor on the reproductive system. Obesity leads to a decrease in testosterone levels in men. This negatively affects the reproductive system because it changes the hormonal balance in the body (testosterone-estrogen-SHBG-FSH-LH).

Insufficient caloric intake has as negative an effect on the reproductive system as obesity. There are studies showing that when men eat low-calorie diets, there are decreases in sperm motility. Low-calorie diets that cause rapid weight loss in a short period, nutritional imbalance (carbohydrate-protein-fat ratio) negatively affect reproductive health and lead to infertility.

Infertility risk increases in men wearing tight pants
While male infertility has many causes, another cause is dressing habits. Male testes are maintained at low temperature in the scrotum. An increase in this temperature negatively affects sperm production. Taking hot showers, saunas, preferring tight pants and wearing suspender-type underwear can increase testicular temperature and cause infertility. It is particularly important for men with infertility problems to pay attention to these matters.

Apart from all these reasons, sleep habits, heavy sports activities, epidemic diseases, climate change, geographic structures, chemotherapy drugs used in cancer, radiotherapy, intense stress and anxiety also have an important place in male infertility. Male infertility is a very detailed matter that needs to be examined carefully and is a highly sensitive issue. For this reason, when investigating male infertility, the process should be conducted with a multidisciplinary approach tailored to each patient.