Alcohol, Age and Antioxidants can cause male infertility?

Alcohol

Alcohol affects the body’s ability to absorb zinc, a nutrient vital for healthy sperm. But research suggests that moderate drinking (two to four units a day, a unit being equivalent to about half a pint of standard-strength lager) has no harmful effects on sperm quantity or quality. “As many studies say there is a problem with alcohol as say there is not,” says Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at Sheffield University. That said, heavy drinking can certainly reduce sperm counts.Bottom line: Moderation is the key.

 

Age

It was once thought that men remained equally fertile throughout their lives. But scientists now believe that the quality and quantity of sperm falls slowly as men get older, with male fertility declining steadily after the age of 50. Whether the age of the father is linked to problems such as learning difficulties in the child is uncertain.

Bottom line: Don’t leave it too late.

 

Antioxidants

Fertility problems in men may be caused by “oxidative stress” — the effects of highly reactive molecules in the body that can cause cell damage. Oxidative stress is linked to lifestyle factors such as obesity, alcohol, diet, pollutants and smoking. Studies have shown that men with fertility problems who take antioxidant supplements (vitamin E, vitamin C, folic acid) as well as zinc and fish oils increase the chance of conceiving.

Bottom line: If you have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for more than a year, consider dietary supplements.