Men’s Fertility

In today’s world, we often see that moms and kids get the most care when it comes to health. Father’s and men alike are willing to sacrifice for their family to save time or money. Although noble and common, today I want to shed light on the the importance of men taking care of themselves and how his health affects the family unit.  

men’s fertility stats over the years: 

Creating a family begins with the fertility of a man and a woman. We often see women taking the initiative to begin preparing their body for pregnancy before families are even trying to concieve. We empower woman to continue to do this, but maybe it is time for men to tune in and realize their health is equally important in this equation!

The World Health Organization states “Around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility. According to the statement by WHO, the infertility rate does not change significantly between low-income and high-income countries. This is a global problem that is affecting all. “

In 1963 the live births per woman was 5.32 and today we see the live births per woman at 2.32. Now there is context to add to this picture - we live in a very different world than 1963! The year 1963 is near the end of the baby boomer era and compared to today, we live in a world that is fast paced and people are settling down to grow families later and later. This data is still frightening, despite the context, when you look at the trend. Infertility and busyness are beginning to have an impact on our global numbers.  

If we look further into recent studies around male fertility, we will see a trend we need to shift. A recent study comparing sperm from 1973 to 2018 showed a 0.93% decrease in sperm concentration per year or a 41.5% decrease since 1973. They also measured total sperm count, which was found to decrease by 1.4% per year. The estimated sperm count in 1973 was 335.7 million and in 2018 the estimate in this study was 126.6 million. This is a 62.3% decrease from 1973 to 2018. This is a serious public health issue that goes beyond lifestyle changes throughout the years!

Now for the men who are beyond their years of having children, lets dive into this study comparing morbidity with sperm quality. This is study is relevant for those men beyond the phase of family growing. A study in Denmark was done to test sperm quality and its association with hospitalizations and conditions. Those found with an above average sperm concentration were found to be hospitalized 7 years later than those with below average sperm concentrations. Those with lack of motile sperm had a 40% higher chance of hospitalization when compared to those with motile sperm. 

So, why is infertility increasing? 

Now that we have talked about the statistics on infertility, let’s discuss why these trends are occurring within the population.  

Obesity is a trend that has seen increases at the same time we have seen decreases in fertility. There has been a tripling in obesity numbers from 1975 until 2017. Obesity can cause increased stress on all aspects of the body, but when we are concerned with sperm health the increased inflammatory state and oxidative stress are the key issues. Inflammation interferes with spermatogenesis, the creation of sperm, and sperm are injured by free radicals during states of oxidative stress.  

Environmental toxins have been found to disrupt endocrine functions. The endocrine system is essential in releasing hormones in the bloodstream. These hormones have many functions, including the reproductive system. There are two keys toxins that have been studied with sperm quality which are BPA and phthalates. BPA is commonly found in canned food, plastic toys, and plastic containers such as water bottles and food tupperware.  Phthalates are found in processed food, vinyl products/packaging, and fragrances in household products. These toxins have been found to lessen the quality of sperm while at the same time lowering levels of testosterone in the body. Feel free to do more research on these toxins and how you can create a toxic-free environment at home.  

Recent trends are showing decreases in the tobacco industry, but this doesn’t mean it is non-existent. Tobacco is filled with toxins which are headlined by nicotine, cadmium, and lead. These toxins have been found to decrease sperm quality. Not only is the tobacco hurting the user, but evidence shows that tobacco decreases male fertility when exposed in utero. This may also play apart in today’s infertility increase.  

Lastly, we are seeing increases throughout the world in chronic diseases. Studies have been done comparing sperm quality of those with chronic disease and those who are healthy. Those suffering from chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome were found to have decrease sperm concentration, testosterone, and motile sperm. It is time to start looking at men’s sperm health as a indicator of their overall health. The body is intricately connected and if this increase in chronic disease continues, we will see continual increase in infertility.  

Infertility and Chiropractic: how is it connected? 

Chiropractic isn’t the first doctor that pops into the mind of those dealing with infertility. Today I hope to shed some light on why we have a desire to help those struggling with infertility!  

In chiropractic, our profession is built on the nervous system - the brain, spinal cord, and nerves out to the body. The nervous system is in control of every single cell, tissue, organ, and muscle in the body. The brain communicates to these areas of the body through nerves that travel down the spinal cord and out to the corresponding areas.  

Let’s talk more a little deeper about our nervous system. To do this, think of a car - you’ll find a fuel gage, a brake, and a gas pedal. We have two sides to our nervous system - the sympathetic state which can be compared to the gas pedal and a parasympathetic state which is similar to the brake. Most people in today’s society are stuck in a sympathetic dominant state, chronically in “fight or flight”, or simply constantly pressing on the gas pedal. Now let’s think of your energy and compare it to the fuel gage. If we are always on the gas pedal, think of how low the fuel will be - lowering our energy reserves! We need our bodies to be able to press the brake pedal or parasympathetic side, as it is in charge of resting, digesting, and healing. We want our bodies to be on cruise control! Here, we are able to react to stress, but at the same time we can heal as our body was created. 

When someone is chronically stuck in a sympathetic dominant state, it’s important to discuss what has kept them here. Subluxation is when the body has a neurological interference or imbalance, causing a miscommunication between the brain and body. Since the nervous system controls all other systems, including reproduction, it’s vital that the brain and body can optimally communicate. Your body is not going to prioritize fertility when your nervous system always feels like it’s running from a bear.

Now, onto the good news! Our job as chiropractors is listen to your story, use our scans to see how your nervous system is functioning, and create a plan specifically tailored to you. We then use an adjusting system that is safe, gentle, and wildly effective at restoring function and balance to the nervous system in turn bringing proper communication to brain + body.

It’s incredible to see the healing that happens when the whole family begins to prioritize their health! We are here to support your family in that journey.

Reach out with any questions,  

Nate Broders, D.C.