How Stress is linked to male fertility

By Daily News Health Reporter

Past research has associated stress with a number of health problems, including heart disease, asthma, obesity and depression. Now, a new study suggests stress can reduce sperm and semen quality, which could have implications for male fertility.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, in around 40% of infertile couples the male partner is the sole cause or contributing cause of infertility.

The main cause of male infertility is sperm abnormalities, including low sperm production or misshapen or immobile sperm. Medical conditions – such as undescended testicles or ejaculation problems – can lead to sperm abnormalities, as well as health and lifestyle factors.

Can Life stress ‘led to lower semen quality’?

Men who experienced two or more stressful life events in the past year had lower sperm quality than men who did not experience any stressful life events, according to researchers.

As part of our research study, the men were required to complete a series of tests that measured levels of stress, including that from the workplace, stressful life events and overall perceived stress.

They were also required to provide semen samples. Using standard fertility testing methods, researchers from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), analyzed semen concentration, and sperm shape (morphology) and movement (motility) in each sample.

The researchers found that men who experienced two or more stressful life events in the past year had a lower percentage of sperm motility and a lower percentage of sperm of normal morphology, compared with men who did not experience any stressful life events. They note this finding remained even after accounting for other factors that may influence semen quality, such as age, other health problems and history of reproductive health problems.

Although workplace stress did not directly affect semen quality in the men, the researchers found that those who experienced job strains had lower levels of the hormone testosterone in their semen, which could affect reproductive health.

In addition, they found that regardless of the levels of stress experienced, men who were unemployed had lower semen quality than those who were employed.

How can stress affect semen quality?

Although the researchers are unable to pinpoint exactly how stress affects the quality of semen, they do present some theories.

They say stress could activate the release of glucocorticoids – steroid hormones that affect the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins – which could reduce testosterone levels and sperm production.

Furthermore, they say stress could trigger oxidative stress – physiological stress on the body caused by damage from unneutralized free radicals – which has been associated with semen quality and fertility.

And Dr Teresa Banda, (name changed for confidential) PhD Public Health, said:

“Stress has long been identified as having an influence on health. Our research suggests that men’s reproductive health may also be affected by their social environment.”

The researchers noted that this is the first study to use subjective and objective measures of stress and, as a result, find links with reduced semen quality.

And Gift Kalunga a Male resident of Mandevu Compound in Lusaka Zambia shared a story with Daily News Health Reporter that he had difficulties in producing to have good quality of semen,

“If I had not gone to the man’s clinic I would have low semen today, the doctors helped me with information on how to have good quality semen which required me to share with other men,” Kalunga said.

He further urged fellow men to visit any clinic nearby for more advance.