Manhood under attack

Could the Indian male be at a greater risk for infertility than his comrades abroad? With factors like heat, humidity and Hindi films to contend with, he just might

Manhood under attack

Could the Indian male be at a greater risk for infertility than his comrades abroad? With factors like heat, humidity and Hindi films to contend with, he just might

K-serial viewers could soon get a well-deserved break from being subjected to forlorn women spurned by the husband and in-laws because of their inability to breed. According to experts, infertility in men is on the rise. So, scriptwriters will soon need to scramble to introduce the trend into primetime television. The average Indian male now produces less sperm per ejaculation than his ancestors.

"Sperm counts have gone down from 80 million per ml to 30-50 million over the last two decades," says Dr Anjali Malpani, director, Malpani Infertility Clinic. Other factors that influence male fertility include sperm motility, an absence of sperm cells, or too few spermatozoa in semen. External factors influencing the trend include smoking, excess alcohol consumption, the use of certain drugs to decrease blood pressure, the use of steroids, an increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and obesity, according to Dr Malpani.u00a0

Indian climate to blame
Experts have raised questions about Indian men being at a start-up disadvantage, as opposed to men in other countries. India's warm, humid tropical climate leaves the Indian male vulnerable to infertility. A study published in the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences by Manipal University throws up the possibility of geography playing a determining role.

According to the study: the quality of human semen evaluated for infertility is deteriorating in the southern part of India over the years, probably due to environmental, nutritional, lifestyle or socio-economic causes.

However, the study lists several limitations including the very basic premise that the subjects studied were infertile patients, and therefore not necessarily indicative of the general population.

"In the south, the weather is warmer and therefore, the testicles are exposed to higher temperatures, which inhibits sperm development," says Dr Bhonsle, explaining how one of the most important factors in optimising male fertility is to make sure the testicles don't get too warm.

Mumps is a tangential but potent cause. Mumps is more prevalent in humid places because the virus thrives in moist regions. And mumps is the biggest culprit affecting male fertility.

"When young boys get mumps, they should also be tested for orchitis (painful testicular swelling), so that they can be given necessary antibiotics," advises Dr Duru Shah, obstetrician and gyneacologist, affiliated to Breach Candy Hospital.

What's in your control
Stress, interestingly, is not directly related to a drop in male fertility, says Dr Malpani; a view that Dr Rajan Bhonsle, Head of Department of Sexual Medicine at KEM Hospital, endorses. "Stress affects potency more than fertility," he says, adding, "However, when you are less potent, you are likely to be less fertile, but the co-relation is not a direct one."
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Wearing tight underwear instead of baggy boxers, is said to have a direct impact, though. "Gym culture is affecting male infertility," claims Dr Bhonsle. "Men who work out in gyms tend to wear tight underwear while lifting weights and doing strenuous cardio. Moreover, some of them take anabolic steroids that have an adverse effect on fertility." He attributes the trend to aping Bollywood stars, with most male icons sporting six-pack abs.

Lifestyle changes are the same as for healthy living. Eat healthy, exercise regularly, and cut down on your caffeine intake (coffees and colas). And while controlled social drinking is all right, smoking is a strict no. "Giving up smoking has dramatic effects on sperm motility, and the results can be seen practically overnight," says Dr Malpani.

Doc says you have a fertility issue. what are your options
1. IVF (In Vitrio Fertilisation): Theu00a0 woman will take drugs that will artificially stimulate her ovaries to produce eggs. When they mature, they will be removed via a needle and placed in a test-tube with your sperm sample and left to fertilise. If it works, the embryos will be transferred back to the womb. Success rate: 22%.
2. Fertility drugs: This one balances out hormone levels and boosts the woman's fertility before more serious methods are tried.
3. IUI (Itrauterine Insemination): A specially prepared sample of your sperm is injected in the woman's womb when her ovulation cycle is at its peek.
4. ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): This is an invasive procedure that works like IVF until the eggs are removed. Then, a single sperm is injected into the center of an egg. Success rate: higher than IVF.

Giving up smoking has dramatic effects on sperm motility, and the results can be seen practically overnight.
- Dr Anjali Malpani

Infertility VS Impotency
Impotence refers to the inability to attain or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse. The term has no bearing on the fertility status of the man. It's thus possible for an impotent man to be potentially fertile. Infertility, on the other hand, refers to the inability to produce off spring. Most infertile men are normal in terms of potency and have satisfactory sexual relations with their partner.

Israeli guys in worst-hit list
According to recent research conducted at Jerusalem's Hadassah University Hospital, in 10 years, the average concentration of sperm among Israeli men declined from 106 million cells per cubic centimeter to 67 million per cubic centimeter.

6 natural ways...
Keep it cool down there: This sounds bizarre, but your testicles need to chill. Your anatomy has been designed for a reason. Why are your nuts outside the body? Because, for optimum sperm production, the temperature needs to be a couple of degrees lower than core body temperature. Using tight underwear or pants, or sitting on a chair all day long at work can up temperature. Studies show how a just 20-minute hot bath can affect sperm production. Choose boxers over undies, cool showers over warm baths and baggy trousers over snug denims.
Cut down on alcohol: Booze and drugs directly affect your fertility. Why not just stick to the recommended 28 units a week rule? It takes your body 12 weeks to produce healthy sperm. Just one round of binge-drinking can affect your sperm for the next few months.
Have more sex: This one may sound a bit far-fetched but studies indicate how having more sex can actually improve sperm quality. Among men whose fertility problems arise out of genetic damage to their sperm rather than a low sperm count, abstaining from sex can make their difficulties worse, research led by David Greening of Sydney IVF, said. "I'm convinced that ejaculating more frequently, ie daily, improves sperm DNA damage in most men, by a decent amount," said Greening.u00a0
Eat a balanced diet: Vitamin C and antioxidants prevent sperm defects and boost sperm motility. They also reduce stress on your reproductive organs. Zinc deficiencies have been linked with reduced testosterone and semen levels. Calcium and Vitamin D have been shown to help increase male fertility.
Fight fat: Obesity means accumulation of fat around the thighs. This ups temperature around testicles. Exercise helps burn excess body fat, allowing hormone levels to return to normal. It is best not to overdo it, though. Over exercising can actually impair fertility. Try low impact aerobic workouts like walking and swimming.
Quit smoking: Smoking affects sperm count, sperm motility, and reduces sperm life span. Studies have also indicated how men who smoked had lower sex drives and less frequent sex.