Male Fertility Myths

When it comes to couples, infertility is often an issue that people immediately associate with the woman. This is highly untrue - around a third of all infertility cases are actually due to male factor infertility, meaning, men should be just as aware of how fertility works and of their overall reproductive health just as well as women who are trying to conceive are.

With all of that can come a lot of myths regarding male fertility, often leading to the man not receiving or simply disregarding the treatment he may need to successfully produce healthy sperm. Here, we dispel such myths surrounding male fertility.

1. Men do not have to worry about their age

While it is true that men produce sperm all throughout their lives, even into their senior years, it is important to know that a man’s age does affect sperm quality and motility. These are two crucial factors in fertilizing an egg to form an embryo. 

Sperm from older men are also known to increase the risk of producing mentally-challenged children. 

If you are not thinking about having children until your later years, it may be a smart idea to look into sperm freezing and other fertility preservation options. 

2. Lifestyle habits affect male fertility less

Smoking, drinking, and an overall unhealthy lifestyle can affect a man’s fertility just as much as it can affect a woman’s fertility. Smoking alone is known to increase a man’s risk of infertility by 30%. 

Whether or not you and your partner are trying to conceive, it is always recommended for both to live clean lifestyles that exclude said bad habits. 

3. As long as there is semen, there is sperm

This is something that a lot of men overestimate. Just because you are able to produce semen, it does not mean you have a healthy sperm count. A lot of the time, men actually ejaculate semen with low sperm count. 

This is why when it comes to addressing conception, it is important for the man to consult with a specialist to examine their reproductive organs, as well as test their semen for a healthy sperm count.

4. Taking men’s supplements can improve sperm quality

When a couple is actively trying to conceive, it will be understandable for the man to think that taking men’s testosterone supplements (for improved libido and energy purposes) will result in stronger sperm that will be better able to fertilize the woman’s egg. This can actually be counterproductive. 

Such practice is actually known to make the man’s body suppress its natural testosterone production, slowing down, or even shutting down sperm production.

If you are experiencing sexual dysfunction and therefore cannot provide sperm in the “traditional manner,” you can look into testicular sperm extraction and IVF. 

5. The type of underwear a man wears affects fertility

You’ve probably heard somewhere before that a man should wear certain types of boxers or briefs to protect their fertility. The truth of the matter is that choice of underwear, whether loose or snug, actually does not affect a man’s sperm count. 

What does matter is the exposure to extremely hot temperatures and hobbies such as biking? Underwear-wise, however, men should only be concerned as to what’s comfortable. 

These are just some of the most popular myths about male fertility floating around, and we’re sure you’ve heard of more before. 

If you’re trying to conceive with your partner or are simply concerned regarding your reproductive health, consult with your doctor today for the necessary tests and evaluations.