The sperm quality is a major determinant in an in vitro fertilization procedure. Research has established its critical effect on pregnancy outcome and consequently live birth. This means that any decrease in the semen quality will effectively lead to a significant reduction in oocyte fertilization and cleavage rates, quality of embryos as well as blastocyst development rates. Where the quality of sperm is established to be of good quality, it could predict a pregnancy outcome if other factors involved in an in vitro fertilization procedures are considered to be favourable and in good condition.
Interestingly, studies have revealed that a negative correlation exists between semen quality and embryo development, even before activation of the embryonic genome, indicating that sperm can affect embryogenesis (development and formation of the human embryo) from a very early stage.
Moreover, there are overarching factors that affects sperm quality and consequently reduces fertilization, cleavage rates, quality of embryos and indeed blastocyst development rates.
1. The lifestyle choice of a person is a major factor. For example, the excessive consumption of Alcohol greatly affects the semen quality and count in men that indulge in it. Also cigarette smoking damages sperm DNA, reduces sperm mobility, and increases erectile dysfunction. Marijuana smoking has its own effect as it reduces sperm count, function, and male fertility.
2. Stress: Stress has the capacity to increase sperm abnormality and reduce its overall concentration in men if left unchecked. Therefore, getting adequate sleep, eating balanced diet, and engaging in regular exercise can be helpful to releasing restrained tension and energy in a healthy and beneficial way.
3. Obesity is associated with male factor infertility: The potential and effectiveness of male reproductive system can be affected negatively by the extreme levels of obesity which also contributes to the lower sperm count that men experience. Men with obesity problem have reduced testicular function that results to increment in female hormones production which significantly lower sperm counts when compared to normal men.
4. All forms of testes exposure to heat is a major factor that reduces sperm count in men: The functionality of testes in men is dependent on how cooler they stay against the other body systems. Frequent exposure of the testes to heat can be extremely dangerous and could result to significant reduction in sperm count. For example, keeping your laptop on your lap for a long period of time can increase the scrotum temperature, lowers sperm count and causes alteration to the process of gamete formation in men.
5. Incessant Mobile Phone Radiation is also a major threat to male fertility: The storage of phone in the trouser pocket for long hours is suggested to have a damaging effect on the male reproductive system as a result of radiation from such device. Reports also shows that mobile phone users with usage time of up to 4 hours daily will likely experience DNA fragmentation.
6. The Age of a person is a contributing factor to reduced sperm quality: The ability of sperm to fertilize the oocyte continues to reduce drastically with age. Hence, the older sperm can negatively affect zygote viability which as a result affects the ability of the sperm cell to effectively fertilize the oocyte.
However, beyond the negative factors that affects sperm quality, there are other factors that improves the sperm quality in male which has an overarching effect on pregnancy outcome.
1. Practice and live a healthy lifestyle. Living and practicing unhealthy lifestyle could have a far reaching effect on your overall health, including fertility. A healthy life will obviously improve the sperm quality and it ability to fertilize the oocyte.
2. Reduce extra body weight. Excessive body weight is largely associated with male infertility. If your infertility problem is linked to your excessive body weight, a reduction in weight must be considered as a way of improving the fertility potentials.
3. Reduce excessive alcohol consumption. Staying away from excessive alcohol consumption is necessary to create an improve semen quality as excessive alcohol intake may reduce testosterone levels and undermine semen quality.
4. Taking time to sleep adequately. Poor semen quality has been associated with minimal or likely excessive sleeping pattern. Hence, getting adequate sleep is vital to maintaining your health and improving the potential and viability of the sperm to fertilize the oocyte.
5. Be committed to regular exercise. Getting involved in regular exercise can influence the body system positively with sufficient testosterone levels and improved male fertility. Research has established that men who engage in regular exercise have higher testosterone levels and good sperm quality when compared to men who are not exercising regularly. However, too much exercise should be avoided since it could be harmful with the ability to reduce the testosterone levels and damage the quality of sperm.
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