'Stressed sperm' warning issued to men as we head into summer
Topics: Health
Ben Williams
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Health
Men have been issued a warning over ‘stressed sperm’ as the weather starts heating up for summer.
Whilst the warmest season for holidays, BBQs, and garden parties is fast approaching, there are some lesser-known issues some may have beyond finding the right sun cream and hay fever tablets.
That’s because fertility specialists have said there is a seasonal health issue that men may want to keep in mind, particularly if they are trying for a baby.
Sperm health can be affected by a number of factors, from lifestyle and illness to age and the number of times you ejaculate, but temperature can also play a major role.
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Whilst it may not be the most discussable topic, even in private, heat exposure can nevertheless have a direct impact on sperm.
This should make some men wary of not only overindulging in additionally warm activities, like hanging out in hot tubs and saunas — but staying out in the hot weather during a heatwave for too long without taking the chance to cool off, as well.
This has been pointed out by experts like Dr Fotodotis Malamas (MD, PhD, MRCOG), IVF specialist at CREATE Fertility, who has explained that repeated heat exposure can affect the way sperm is produced, as the testes need to remain cooler than the rest of the body.
He said: “For men, the impact of saunas and hot tubs is significant and well-documented. Frequent exposure to temperatures between 80°C and 90°C increases the temperature in the scrotal area. This heat stress interferes with spermatogenesis.”
“Clinical studies have shown that men who use saunas twice a week can see a reduction in sperm count and motility. While things typically return to normal after stopping use, the recovery process follows the 72 to 90-day cycle of spermatogenesis, meaning the effects can persist for months after the last sauna session.”
Spermatogenesis is the process of sperm production, and because it runs in a cycle, any disruption caused by heat may not simply disappear overnight.
Dr Malamas added: “Male fertility is highly sensitive to temperature because spermatogenesis requires an environment 2°C to 3°C below core body temperature. During a heatwave, the network of veins responsible for cooling the blood entering the testes can become overwhelmed, potentially leading to scrotal hyperthermia, which causes oxidative stress and damages the DNA integrity of the sperm.”
“Moreover, heat stress can reduce sperm motility and concentration, which can lower the likelihood of successful fertilisation.”
Essentially, one dip in a hot tub won’t automatically cause a fertility problem, but specialists are warning that frequent or prolonged exposure to high heat could cause issues with sperm issues.
If you’re, for example, monitoring your fertility to hopefully conceive a child this year, long exposure to high heat too many times could have you undergo spermatogenesis, and potentially disrupt your plans for months — even if it’s simply because you didn’t cool down enough during a heat wave.
Dr Malamas also explained that women should be mindful too, particularly in early pregnancy or when undergoing fertility treatment.
He said: “In most healthy women, occasional sauna or hot tub use is unlikely to impact fertility, but frequent or prolonged sessions, especially during the luteal phase, should be avoided due to the potential effects of hyperthermia on early embryonic development.”
“For this reason, sauna use is not recommended once early pregnancy is confirmed.”