Science

Hard work. Physical activity has a positive effect on sperm quality – scientists

A new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School has found that men who regularly lift heavy objects at work have higher sperm counts.

The study is part of the Environment and Reproductive Health (ERH) Cohort, a clinical trial that aims to investigate how environmental chemicals and lifestyle affect reproductive health.

“We already know that exercise is associated with numerous human health benefits, including reproductive health, but several studies have examined how occupational factors may contribute to these benefits,” said first author Lydia Minges-Alarcon, associate professor at Harvard Medical and co-investigator of the SRH study.

“These new data suggest that physical activity during work may also be associated with significant improvements in male reproductive potential,” she said.

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Infertility is a growing problem that can be caused by a range of complex factors . However, about 40 percent of infertility cases can be attributed to male factors such as sperm count, sperm quality and sexual function.

In particular, sperm count and sperm quality are thought to be major contributors to rising male infertility rates: a previous analysis by the OSRH research team found that among men seeking fertility treatment, sperm count and quality declined by as much as 42 percent over the period. from 2000 to 2017.

“In addition, there is growing evidence that male infertility is associated with common chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disease, highlighting the broader importance of male reproductive health,” Minges-Alarcón said.

The SRH study is a collaborative project at the Harvard School of Public Health. T. H. Chana and Mass General to assess the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on fertility.

The SRH collected samples and interview data from more than 1,500 men and women, and the current study focused on a subset of these participants, including 377 male partners in couples seeking treatment at a fertility treatment center.

The researchers found that men who frequently lifted or moved heavy objects at work had a 46% higher sperm concentration and a 44% higher total sperm count compared to those who did less manual labor.

Men who reported more physical activity at work also had higher levels of the male sex hormone testosterone and, paradoxically, the female hormone estrogen.

“Contrary to what some people remember from biology class, ‘male’ and ‘female’ hormones are found in both sexes but in different amounts,” said Minges-Alarcón, who is also a senior fellow at Harvard’s Chan School. In this case, we hypothesize that excess testosterone is converted to estrogen, which is a known way of maintaining normal levels of both hormones in the body.”

While the current study has found an association between physical activity and fertility in men seeking fertility treatment, further research will be needed to confirm whether these findings hold true for men in the general population. The researchers also hope that future research will uncover the underlying biological mechanisms.

“Reproductive health is important in its own right, but more and more evidence suggests that male infertility can give us insight into broader public health issues, including the most common chronic diseases,” Minges-Alarcón said. steps people can take to improve their fertility will benefit all of us, not just couples trying to conceive.”

Focus has previously written about birth control pills for men . The effectiveness of the new tablet is 99%. The study was actually done on mice.

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