Not long ago, the Population Association of China and the National Family Planning Commission jointly released the \”Research Report on the Current Situation of Infertility in China.\” Data show that China\’s infertility rate has climbed from 2.5%-3% 20 years ago to 12.5%-15% in 2018, with more than 60 million patients. On the other hand, the incidence of birth defects is also increasing year by year, reaching 5.6%. According to experts, male kidney essence deficiency, decreased sperm quality, and expectant parents drinking alcohol before pregnancy have become one of the important causes of these problems.
A Excessive drinking may lead to male infertility
Data show that the number of births in my country in 2018 decreased by 2 million compared with 2017, and the number of births in 2017 decreased by 630,000 compared with the previous year. Compared with the declining birth rate year by year, the number of in vitro fertilization is increasing year by year. Experts bluntly say that in addition to factors such as environmental pollution, delayed childbearing age, and life stress, excessive drinking in men leads to a decrease in sperm quality, and insufficient kidney essence in men also lead to male infertility.
The impact of male drinking on fertility is mainly reflected in the harm of alcohol to sperm. Experts point out that male alcoholism is the enemy of sperm. If you drink a lot for a long time, alcohol will cause 70% of sperm to develop dysplasia or make the sperm lose vitality.
Experts further explain that since heavy drinking can lead to lower testosterone levels in men, it can also reduce sperm quality and quantity. When alcohol passes through, it can cause gonadal poisoning, severely damage testicular interstitial cells, and inhibit the synthesis of testosterone, causing a decrease in serum testosterone levels, eventually leading to loss of sexual desire, sperm abnormalities and other consequences. In men, severe cases directly lead to male infertility. or fetal anomalies.
B Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects
According to reports, the incidence rate of birth defects in my country is about 5.6%, which has exceeded the average level of middle-income countries in the world (5.57%). Moreover, due to its large population base, it is a country with a high rate of birth defects. Birth defects are highly prevalent, with about 900,000 new cases every year. Birth defect disorders can lead to long-term disability and have significant impacts on individuals, families, health care systems, and society. Experts say men who drink before a woman becomes pregnant and women who drink during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
It is well known that pregnant women should not drink alcohol, but it has not attracted enough attention in real life. In addition to directly causing physical defects, drinking during pregnancy may also lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Professor Liu Shuangyan, director of the Infertility Center of Guangzhou Chang\’an Hospital, said that fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a group of disease states caused by damage to the embryo and fetus caused by the mother\’s drinking during pregnancy. Psychosomatic dysfunction includes physical, psychological and learning aspects. question.
Parents who drink alcohol before and during pregnancy can also cause neurodevelopmental disorders in their children, manifesting as intellectual disabilities, behavioral and learning problems. They may have abnormalities such as learning difficulties, especially in mathematics; memory, attention, judgment and self-controlThe problem. These problems are often not discovered and diagnosed until the child reaches a certain age, especially school age.
Alcohol-related birth defects are more common, and patients may develop heart, kidney, bone or hearing problems, or a combination of these problems. They are often detected late and may not be properly diagnosed and treated throughout their lives.
The greater the amount of alcohol consumed, the higher the risk. Pregnant women should completely abstain from alcohol during and even before pregnancy. Professor Liu Shuangyan said.
Health reminder
Bad habits can lead to infertility
Professor Liu Shuangyan of Guangzhou Chang\’an Hospital reminded that some bad habits in daily life may also \”hurt the mind\”, such as sauna, use of electric blankets, car seat heating, etc. Liu Shuangyan explained that this is because the testicles are the only glands in the male body that are outside the body, while other glands are in the human body. The testicles are suitable for a relatively low temperature environment, usually around 35 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average body temperature of the human body is generally around 37 degrees Fahrenheit. When the testicles are exposed to high temperatures, the spermatogenic cells in the testicles will be destroyed, leading to infertility.
In addition, being severely overweight or obese can disrupt hormones important for reproductive health, such as testosterone; smoking and drug use have also been linked to infertility.
There is also evidence that men who wear boxer briefs have higher sperm counts than men who wear tight briefs or briefs; more exercise can increase blood testosterone and sperm production, and choosing fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, poultry and whole grains can increase The quality of male sperm. ——New Express reporter Fang Yi and correspondent Xue Long