Sperm is actually very fragile, and it has high requirements on the living environment. Sperm can survive in a water environment outside the body for up to 24 hours and in a dry environment outside the body for 3 to 5 minutes. Semen originally exists in a liquid state in the reproductive tract. When semen is ejected from the mouth of the penis, it will immediately turn into a milky white or yellowish translucent jelly under the action of a protein-like substance secreted by the seminal vesicles. This is the semen character that people usually see. At this time, the sperm is \”coagulated\” in the semen and cannot swim freely. After 5 to 30 minutes, with the participation of a hydrolase secreted by the prostate, the semen liquefies and automatically changes from jelly to thin water. The sperm begin to move. When the surviving sperm ascend and reach the uterine cavity, a large number of sperm will die. This is because the sperm retained in the semen when the man ejaculates can be protected by the fructose in the semen and the enzyme that breaks down the carboxylase. However, When the sperm enters the female uterine cavity and leaves the semen, the living conditions are not as good as before, so the survival time of the sperm is also shortened. Therefore, the sperm that can eventually reach the fertilization site of the female fallopian tube are often the highest quality sperm, and these sperm will be more in line with eugenic conditions. Often only 1 to 2 sperm can combine with the egg, and the rest only have 24 to 36 hours left to survive.
At the same time, sperm also has strict requirements for pH value. Sperm is normally weakly alkaline, with a pH value between 7.7 and 8.5. Semen that is too acidic or too alkaline may affect sperm activity and metabolism, and is the main cause of sperm death (necrozoospermia).
In fact, many factors will affect the quality of sperm, and many of us are now walking in the minefield of harming sperm unconsciously. Here I will briefly summarize some of them for your reference.
Both too high and too low temperatures will affect sperm motility
The production and growth of sperm require a relatively low temperature of 34°C, and high temperature and cold environments will be serious. affect its quality. Studies have shown that sperm with abnormal ultrastructure significantly increases after low temperature, which interferes with sperm production and motility. High temperature makes the testicular temperature higher than the physiological temperature for sperm growth and development, seriously affecting the function of spermatogenic cells. It also causes testicular metabolism and various biochemical and immune reactions, leading to changes in spermatogenic microcirculation, which accelerates the rate of sperm passing through the epididymis and matures. Slowing down, eventually leading to testicular spermatogenesis disorders, abnormal sperm morphology, and spermThe fluid quality decreases, or a large number of sperm die in the testicles, and testicular atrophy may even occur.
Electromagnetic radiation can easily cause sperm deformities
The testis is one of the most sensitive tissues and organs to electromagnetic radiation in the human body. Excessive use of mobile phones can reduce sperm count and motility, and increase sperm abnormalities. Microwaves can damage spermatogenic cells through thermal effects, affect the endocrine function of testicles, and cause an increase in sperm deformity rates and a decrease in sperm quality.
High-frequency vibration makes it difficult for sperm to mature
The semen examination results of people who are engaged in continuous violent vibration operations show that this group of people suffers from azoospermia and oligospermia. The rates of spermatozoa, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia are higher. Studies have shown that continuous severe vibration can cause abnormalities in autonomic nervous function, immune function, hemorrheology, and endocrine function of endothelial cells. Abnormalities in these functions may affect reproductive function and directly lead to sperm maturation disorders.
Chemical pollution affects fertility
Chemical factors mainly come from environmental pollution, such as pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural production and waste residues and wastewater discharged by industrial and mining enterprises. and toxic chemicals in human domestic waste, which can enter the living environment through various channels and cause serious harm to organisms in the environment and human health. Environmental pollution is the main way to harm male reproductive function because the male reproductive system is highly sensitive to environmental pollution. Harmful substances cause damage to the male reproductive system through various ways, such as the following.
(1) Directly acts on the reproductive organs, affecting the supporting cells of the testicles and the spermatogenesis process.
(2) Destroying the blood-testis barrier directly produces cytotoxic effects on germ cells.
(3) Acts on the gonadal axis, resulting in weakened stimulation of the gonads and affecting spermatogenesis and sex hormone production.
(4) It starts from the embryonic period through the indirect influence of the mother. Common pollutants include organochlorine compounds, organophosphorus compounds, phthalates, and organic compounds commonly found in pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, plastic products, electronics and pharmaceutical industries, dry cleaning, spraying and interior decoration materials. Solvents, etc.
Lifestyle directly harms sperm
There are many lifestyles that can harm sperm unknowingly.
(1) Drivers and white-collar professionals or people who sit for long periods of time and lack exercise can put pressure on the testicles, epididymis and spermatic cord, affect blood circulation, cause blood stasis in the venous plexus around the spermatic cord, and increase intravenous pressure. It affects testicular metabolism, leading to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood, hypoxia in the testicles and epididymis, and poor waste metabolism, which is detrimental to sperm production and storage.
(2) Vigorous exercise will affect sperm production. The energy required for human movement comes from the oxidative decomposition of glucose. Our breathing can ensure sufficient oxygen supply, and glucose will be broken down by oxygen.Decomposes into carbon dioxide and water to produce energy. However, when people consume huge amounts of energy during strenuous exercise, breathing becomes deeper and faster, and the body\’s demand for oxygen cannot be met. Glucose will undergo anaerobic glycolysis in a hypoxic state, and at the same time, a large amount of acidic metabolites such as lactic acid will be produced. These acidic metabolites Metabolites enter the testicles with blood circulation, which will cause oxidative stress and produce a large amount of reactive oxygen species in semen. When the active oxygen in semen exceeds the antioxidant capacity of the semen itself, it will have an adverse effect on sperm.
(3) Smoking affects semen quality. It is generally believed that cigarettes contain nicotine, carbon monoxide, cadmium, lead, heavy metals and other substances. Smoking can affect the biosynthesis of testosterone. Heavy smokers can also constrict the penile arteries, hinder the occurrence and maturation of sperm, and cause sperm motility, The rate of normal sperm morphology decreased. This difference becomes more significant as the amount of smoking and smoking time increase, and it can also cause sperm chromosome aberrations.
(4) Alcohol reduces sperm motility. After drinking a lot of alcohol, ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde can directly or indirectly inhibit the activity of enzymes involved in testosterone synthesis, damage the spermatogenic function of the testicles, and change the chromosome structure and number of germ cells, which can be manifested as prolonged semen liquefaction time and sperm loss. The survival rate is reduced and the sperm motility rate is reduced.
(5) Improper diet affects sperm motility. Danish scientists found that the more saturated fat a man consumes, the lower his sperm concentration and quality will be. In other words, eating greasy food is harmful to sperm. Research data from my country shows that eating raw cottonseed oil can lead to a significant reduction or even disappearance of spermatogenic cells. The \”sanitary oil\” consumed in some areas now is processed cooked cottonseed oil. Qualified products have had gossypol removed and can be eaten.
Reproductive infection reduces sperm motility
Some studies have found that male semen quality changes significantly after reproductive tract infection, such as genital tract inflammation, tuberculosis, etc., which can cause semen Reduced sperm density, motility, and fertilization ability. For those infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV), sperm quality examination will show reduced sperm motility and survival rate, and semen quality will improve with the degree of virus control. Patients infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) may have abnormal semen quality.
Insufficient trace elements affect sperm motility
Trace elements are important biochemical components in semen. They are involved in maintaining the stability of the sperm living environment and participating in the composition of sperm. Trace elements affect the maturation and motility of sperm, and a decrease in their content can cause changes in semen quality. Among many trace elements, zinc is the most abundant of the essential trace elements in the human body. It is a cofactor for more than a hundred enzymes in the body. In the male body, most of it is concentrated in the reproductive organs. Semen contains high concentrations of zinc. Zinc deficiency can lead to sexual dysfunction, reduced sperm density, reduced testosterone synthesis, disordered amino acid metabolism, protein synthesis disorders, and stagnant sperm formation. Zinc deficiency can affect sperm activity.
Some diseases affectAffects semen quality
In fact, there are many diseases that have varying degrees of impact on sperm. Here I will simply list one or two that have a greater impact.
(1) Impact of diabetes. From the formation to the discharge of semen from the body, it is a very complex process, which is regulated by nerve and endocrine hormones. The impact of diabetes on one of these links can cause changes in semen quality. Foreign studies have confirmed that the disease has a significant impact on semen quality, including reductions in total semen volume, total sperm count, sperm density and motility rate to varying degrees.
(2) The impact of varicocele (VC). About 40% of infertile men have varicocele of varying severity. Varicocele can affect the blood supply to the testicles and affect the production of healthy semen. In the semen analysis of VC patients, the increase in sperm abnormality rate was more obvious than the changes in other indicators. It has been reported that after surgical treatment, the semen quality improvement rate is 49% to 77%.
Drugs can inhibit fertility
According to clinical research, the following types of drugs have a greater impact on male fertility.
(1) Antibiotics. For example, macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin, spiramycin, and medinomycin, tetracycline, novobiocin, and furans, etc., have toxic effects on the gonads.
(2) Chemical drugs for treating tumors. Most of them have side effects that cause male infertility, such as busulfan, nitrogen mustard, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and colchicine.
(3) Endocrine-affecting drugs. Long-term and excessive use of androgens and thyroid preparations.
(4) Neuropsychiatric drugs. Many sedatives, hypnotics and antidepressants can reduce testosterone production in men. Excessive doses of epilepsy treatment and prevention drugs such as phenytoin and taking the drugs for too long can also cause azoospermia.
(5) Diuretics and antihypertensive drugs. Compound antihypertensive tablets, spironolactone, reserpine, methyldopa, and antihypertensive pills can affect sperm production, and long-term use of aspirin may cause infertility.
(6) Sulfa drugs. Such as sulfa salicylazine.
(7) Drugs.
(8) Traditional Chinese medicine. Tripterygium wilfordii, Aesculus aesculata, earthworms (dried earthworms), Sophora flavescens, pig gallbladder, sagittaria, Fritillaria, gypsophila, soapgrass, etc.
This article is provided by Baidu Reading. It is excerpted from \”Very Good Pregnancy: You Can Get Pregnant by Doing This\” Author: Yu Yue\’e