Male Fertility Myths

 Written by Ben Bunting: BA(Hons), PGCert.

--

When you are trying to do your research about fertility and what you can do to help on your journey to having a child, you are going to get hit with a lot of information.

Everyone has got an opinion, and a lot of those opinions come from outdated bad information or assumptions based on pure ignorance.

If you and your partner are thinking about starting a family, then you should think about how you can separate the facts from the fiction. 

This is going to be a time when you are going to be incredibly anxious about how you can do everything that you can to give yourself the best possible chance of success.

Here are the myths we are going to break down: 

• Myth: Male Fertility Is A Simple Issue
• Myth: Lifestyle Does Not Have An Impact On Male Fertility
• Myth: You Should Be Wearing Boxer Shorts
• Myth: Men Are Fertile No Matter How Old They Are
• Myth: You Cannot Improve Your Sperm Quality
• Myth: Supplements Are Just For Women
• Conclusion

Myth: Male Fertility Is A Simple Issue

Some people have this belief that fertility is a black and white issue. They think that you are either fertile or you are not.

It is this kind of ignorance that leads to some unhealthy attitudes surrounding the question of male fertility.

➡️READ: Natural treatments for male infertility

The truth of the matter is that there are all sorts of reasons why a man may have fertility issues. 

Some of these may be medical, whether that is through inherited issues, treatment for an illness or injury, or medication that he is taking.

Some of these may be lifestyle factors, which we will get into shortly.

It is also important to note that sometimes environmental factors can have a part to play.

To cut a long story short, there is more to fertility than meets the eye, and there is more that can be done to improve your fertility and chances of fathering a child than you might think. 

Lifestyle Does Not Have An Impact On Male Fertility

If you ask a random stranger on the street what a woman should not do if they are trying for a baby, then the chances are pretty good that they will be able to reel off a long list of suggestions.

For example, they will have a fair idea of how diet can play a part and that they should avoid drinking or smoking.

If you ask them how a man can improve his fertility, then it seems fair to say that they probably won’t be as well versed in the answers.

The fact is that lifestyle has a huge part to play in male fertility. You need to be thinking very carefully about your diet and what you are putting into your body.

For example, being overweight or obese can have a real impact on the quality of your sperm, so you need to get plenty of exercise too.

You need to make sure that you are eating healthily, and you should think about taking supplements for vitamins and minerals that can help. 

You Should Be Wearing Boxer Shorts

There are a few different theories that are like this one, including the fact that you should not use your laptop on your lap and that you should avoid hot tubs, but at the heart of all of this is that you should avoid raising the temperature of your scrotum on a regular basis.

This is compounded by the fact raising scrotum temperature has been used as an effective male contraceptive method in the past, that proved to be completely reversible. 

Now, the truth at the center of this is that your scrotum should be a couple of degrees cooler than your core temperature.

If you are routinely raising that temperature, then there is a chance that it could have a negative impact on your sperm quality.

A study published in 2018 did find that those who wore tight underwear did tend to have lower sperm concentrations and sperm count compared to those wearing looser garments. 

However, it was noted that the study method was based on a questionnaire and did not take in to account fabric choice, or even the outer trouser style, cut or textile nor the lifestyle choices of the participants.

Furthermore, blood samples were also taken during different times of the day. 

However, while there is some compelling evidence that the laptop theory is correct and that some experts advise avoiding hot tubs if you are trying for a baby.

There is less reason to believe that your underwear choice has any consistent impact on your fertility, so ensure you wear what is comfortable to you, and suitable for your activity levels. 

Men Are Fertile No Matter How Old They Are

It is easy to see how this myth has so much traction.

You only need to look at how old Mick Jagger was when he fathered his most recent child, for example, to see that it is possible for men to stay fertile well into their old age.

However, the fact is that your fertility rate will start to decline as you get older.

It is true that the decline in fertility is more intense in women than it is in men, but once you start hitting your 40s, your sperm concentration will start to decline. And we are not talking about a small number; it’s around a 50% difference. 

You Cannot Improve Your Sperm Quality

There are some medical issues that make fertility a permanent issue.

However, the above point about lifestyle being related to your fertility means that you can make some active changes to help your chances of fathering a child.

For example, if you are a smoker, one of the best things that you can do to improve your sperm health is to stop smoking. 

Alcohol is another major factor in sperm health, and cutting down on, or cutting it out completely, will help.

There is a lot of research being done about how antioxidants can help with a wide range of different health issues, and male fertility is one of them.

It is important to remember to find a supplement that can clearly demonstrate what each ingredient is there for and that there is evidence for its efficacy. 

Supplements Are Just For Women

We all know how important vitamin and mineral supplements are for women when they are either trying to conceive or are pregnant.

But as we have demonstrated, male fertility is not just an essential part of the process, and it is something that you may be able to work on and improve.

This is where supplements can be a fantastically important part of your journey. Fertiligy is created using modern research that creates a multi-faceted supplement that can make sure that you give yourself the best possible chance. 

Conclusion

These are just a few of the most common myths surrounding male fertility, and you can see how important it is to separate fact from fiction.

To learn more about male infertility, potential causes, and remedies, visit Fertiligy’s knowledge base.

Our experts have created a supplement with all-natural ingredients that are backed by clincial studies to help you and your partner give each other the best possible chance of achieving pregnancy.