The serious harm that drinking and smoking pose to male fertility

[Drinking alcohol is harmful to men] Excessive drinking in men can reduce sperm count. Extremely excessive drinking (more than 5 drinks a day) can lead to erectile dysfunction or short duration of penile erection, or the ability to achieve an erection but not ejaculate, due to decreased penile sensitivity.

In men, alcohol can also affect liver function, damage the liver, and cause female hormones to accumulate in the body, inhibiting sperm production and reducing sexual performance.

Alcohol can also affect sperm production by increasing prolactin levels in the body.

Studies have found that alcohol consumption can affect male fertility.

Drinking alcohol can cause testicular atrophy, decreased fertility, reduced sexual function, and even erectile dysfunction in men.

Researchers have found that the shape and motility of sperm change in drinkers.

Furthermore, the testicular structure that produces sperm is also damaged in alcoholics, resulting in very few sperm surviving.

Studies have also shown that drinking alcohol once a day can affect the release of testosterone, leading to decreased libido and reduced ability to produce mature sperm in men.

[Smoking is bad for your health] Whether you are actively smoking or passively smoking, the damage to the body is not limited to the lungs, but extends to all organs.

Carbon monoxide and other chemicals in cigarettes bind to tissue cells, causing vasoconstriction and reduced blood oxygen levels, leading to hypoxia and vitamin deficiency (especially antioxidant vitamin C). This results in skin aging of the reproductive system, tissue atrophy, decreased function of various organs throughout the body, and accumulation of toxic substances.

Smoking affects fertility, and this is something that neither men nor women can avoid.

Studies have found that smoking is associated with reduced sperm count and poorer sperm quality in men, possibly due to a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood and tissues.

Studies have shown that maternal smoking is associated with birth defects in infants.

For men, the most important thing to avoid is smoking in the three months before their wife becomes pregnant, because sperm production for conception begins after three months.

When a couple is preparing to become parents, both partners must quit smoking. Even smoking just two cigarettes a day can cause problems for both of them.

In addition, one should try to avoid going to environments with smoke pollution in order to reduce the amount of passive smoking.

[Environmental pollution affects fertility] The biggest factor affecting infertility is the change in the quality of the environment that people are in close contact with and depend on for survival.

Humans deal with all sorts of chemicals in every aspect of their lives, from clothing and food to housing and transportation.

These chemical substances that affect humans and other organisms (mainly animals) are called "environmental hormones." Once inside the body, they mainly exert estrogen-like (estrogen-like) effects, directly impacting male and female reproductive capabilities.

Currently, over a hundred chemical substances that come into close contact with humans have been identified as having this effect. These substances are mainly found in plastics and plastic foam (white pollutants), detergents, asphalt, some additives, and decorative products made from chemicals.

They primarily pollute water sources and enter the food chain through water, causing direct harm to humans and thus affecting human fertility.

Male infertility is mainly manifested in a significant increase in patients with azoospermia, oligospermia, and asthenospermia.

Decreased semen quality is common among men.

Currently, it is extremely rare to find individuals whose semen quality evaluation indicators all reach excellent levels (less than 5%), and it is already considered quite good if each indicator reaches the lower limit of the normal standard.

Studies have found that over the past 20 years, the number of sperm in the semen of normal adult men in my country has decreased by 20%, and the sperm motility, percentage of normal sperm morphology, and semen volume have all decreased by about 10%.

This indicates that since the 1980s, the quality of male sperm in my country has been significantly "deteriorating".

The decline in male semen quality may have exceeded what people find acceptable.

[Avoid contact with toxic substances] Studies have shown that certain pesticides, chemical solvents, dust, or other substances in the environment may cause female infertility and abnormal or reduced sperm count in men.

Pesticides are frequently used on lawns and farmland. These chemicals are harmful, and sprayed pesticides are especially harmful because they can spread through the air and are easily absorbed by people without their knowledge.

When using any herbicide, fungicide, or insecticide, you should wear long pants, a face mask, sleeves, and gloves.

If you work in an environment with toxic gases, you should buy a mask with a replaceable filter and always wear protective clothing.

Humans must not only protect themselves from the harmful effects of chemical drugs, but also from the harmful effects of harsh environments on their bodies.

The damage is especially severe if there is a lot of dust in the surrounding environment, including dust from grains and sawdust from logging, and if pesticides have been added to the wood.

Protective measures should also be taken when using chemical solvents.

Especially when using volatile solvents such as paint thinner, effective protection should be taken.

For example, ensure that the workplace has good ventilation and that people stand in safe positions as much as possible.

Severe lead poisoning can have a serious impact on fertility in both men and women.

In addition, when taking X-rays, you should try to protect your genitals from radiation.