Conditions
The production of sperm is a very complex process that relies on the functioning of various organ processes working together and working normally. A problem with any one of these processes or systems can have an impact on sperm production.
If you have a comorbid condition or chronic medical condition, you may experience low fertility or infertility, and CryoChoice is here to assist you in preserving your sperm for your future family.
Hormone Imbalance
Your hypothalamus and pituitary glands both produce hormones that trigger sperm production in the testes / testicles. If these vital organs within your brain are not functioning properly, hormone production may be altered causing a hormone imbalance. Hormone imbalances can lead to a low sperm count and low fertility.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
& Gastrointestinal Disorders
Research on IBD and its connection to low fertility and infertility is very limited.
However, medications used to treat IBD, the poor diets of those afflicted, and the surgeries
associated with IBD are the most common factors contributing to fertility issues.
Celiac Disease
Research has shown that celiac disease can cause low fertility and infertility in men; however, moving to a low gluten diet has been said to improve sperm count.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
& Infections
STD’s, such as HIV / AIDS, can cause low fertility and infertility. In addition, many STI’s, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc., can cause low fertility and infertility, if remain untreated.
Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Graves’ Disease, and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis are all well-known thyroid disorders indicative of an over or underactive thyroid. Any time the thyroid gland is not functioning normally, a hormone imbalance can occur, which in turn can cause a low sperm count and low fertility.
Recurring prostatitis or infection to the prostate gland is another potential cause of low fertility and infertility.
Men having an immune response to their own sperm is not uncommon, and some studies have shown that 10% of infertility cases in men are caused by an immune response to the sperm they produce. Essentially, men with autoimmune disorders may have antisperm antibodies getting in the way of their own fertility.
At this time, heart disease itself is not linked to low fertility or infertility. However, the risk factors and medications associated with heart diseases are problematic. For example, smoking, obesity, chronic stress, unhealthy eating habits, etc., are all high-risk contributing factors to heart disease and are linked to low fertility. In addition, statins, which are commonly used to treat heart disease, are also associated with low fertility and infertility.
Diabetes
The various impacts of diabetes are very public, and the impacts do not exclude fertility in men. It has been well documented that defective sperm DNA is one of the leading causes of infertility, pregnancy failure, and miscarriage. It has been researched and documented that over half of sperm cells from diabetic men were fragmented, compared to those that do not have diabetes. Also, there was a higher rate of deletions of DNA in the cells and a much lower volume of semen overall.
Stress
Chronic stress has been clinically proven to negatively impact sperm production and sperm maturation, which can lead to not only low fertility and infertility, but difficulty conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy. Researchers have also proven that men who have suffered more than one stressful life event in a twelve-month period had a lower sperm motility and morphology compared to men who did not experience any stressful life events.
Depression
One common myth regarding lowered sperm count and depression is that it is only the depression medication that is tied to low fertility and infertility; however, studies in neuroendocrinology have found that depression in males has been linked to an overall decrease in semen volume and sperm density, even while not on medications.