Understanding the male reproductive cell: Sperm

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We live in a great grand digital world where information is dispensable at a click. But a lot of times, the whirlpool of information leaves us confused especially with respect to a rather ‘conventionally’ secretive topics one like ‘understanding sperm, the male reproductive cell’ in-depth. Here is a list of all things you must know especially if considering to have a child with your partner.

What is Sperm?

Sperm is a male reproductive cell. It is a vessel which carries a man’s DNA to combine with a woman’s egg that makes for an embryo that eventually grows in a foetus.

Sperm production and its longevity

Sperms develop in testicles within a system of tiny tubes called seminiferous tubules. It takes around three months for it to go from a stem cell to a mature sperm in a testicle. A healthy man produces over 1000 sperms per second. Outside a male’s body, a sperm can survive about two days while it can survive around 72 hours in a woman’s reproductive tract.

Increasing sperm count and quality

Sperm count can be increased by staying physically healthy, maintaining proper weight and consuming a diet which contains nutrients like Vitamin C and B-12.

What causes a decrease in sperm count and quality?

Habits like smoking cigarettes, alcoholism, obesity, unhealthy lifestyle can lead to a lower sperm count and low fertility among men.

How long can sperm be banked and possible to use?

Sperms which are stored can be used even after years. No studies have found any issues regarding using sperms as old as 20 years.

Sperms in Pregnancy

Although a man produces thousands of sperm per second and releases 100 million sperms when he ejaculates, it takes just one sperm to fertilise a woman’s egg and make her pregnant. High sperm fertility and mobility are required for a man to get a female pregnant. This is because out of the total sperm released during ejaculation only a few survive the journey from the vagina to the fallopian tubes and just one that actually fuses with the female egg to form an embryo in the placenta.

Myths about Sperm

Thicker Sperm is more fertile
Sperms live only for a short duration
Sperms stay fertile and healthy for man’s entire life
Every sperm is healthy and viable
More sperm is better while trying to get pregnant

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What is infertility?

Infertility refers to a couple that has failed to conceive after one year of regular sexual intercourse without using contraceptives. Studies show that about 15 percent of couples are unable to get pregnant even after one year of having unprotected sex. While infertility is traced to the woman in one-third of cases, in another third of cases, it is because of the man while the rest of the time, no cause can be found or it may be because of both partners.

Here are a few factors that can lead to infertility in women and men:

Age

A woman’s fertility starts to drop after she is about 32 years old, and continues doing so. A 50-year-old man is usually less fertile than a man in his 20s (male fertility progressively drops after the age of 40).

Smoking

Smoking significantly increases the risk of infertility in both men and women. Smoking may also undermine the effects of fertility treatment. Even when a woman gets pregnant, if she smokes she has a greater risk of miscarriage.

Alcohol consumption

A woman’s pregnancy can be seriously affected by any amount of alcohol consumption. Alcohol abuse may lower male fertility. Moderate alcohol consumption has not been shown to lower fertility in most men but is thought to lower fertility in men who already have a low sperm count.

Being obese or overweight

Overweight/ obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are often found to be the principal causes of female infertility. An overweight man has a higher risk of having abnormal sperm.

Eating disorders and Poor Nutrition

Women who become seriously underweight as a result of an eating disorder may have fertility problems. You must make sure your intake of iron, folic acid, zinc and vitamin B-12 are adequate, otherwise, your fertility may become affected.

Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs)

Chlamydia can damage the fallopian tubes, as well as making the man’s scrotum become inflamed. Some other STIs may also cause infertility.

Mental stress

Studies indicate that female ovulation and sperm production may be affected by stress. If at least one partner is stressed it is possible that the frequency of sexual intercourse is less, resulting in a lower chance of conception. Stress, coupled with poor nutrition, can contribute towards infertility.

However with the developments in science and medicine, now here are fertility treatments that are available for men and women. Medication, assisted reproductive technology like IVI and IUF, and surgery are some of the common treatments. But it is always good to have a healthy lifestyle and avoid factors that may lead to infertility in the first place.