What men can do to produce healthy sperm - CNN

Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt is a urologist and robotic surgeon with Orlando Health and an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine.

In my clinic, one of the first things I hear from men facing a fertility issue is often the same: “I didn’t know I could be the problem. Help me, Doc.”

I’ve seen the entire spectrum — couples referred after she checked out fine, men getting a semen analysis before they start trying to conceive, others who just want to know where they stand before fertility becomes urgent.

No symptoms. No warning signs. Just a result they did not see coming.

Most men already know stress can affect mood, libido and erections. What they do not realize is that constantly feeling under pressure may also affect sperm health. Fertility problems are rarely caused by stress alone, but stress may be one overlooked piece of the picture.

What stress does to your body

A lot of men think stress is just a mindset problem that lives in your head. But stress changes what your body does.

When stress hits, the body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This release is part of the body’s built-in alarm system helping you respond to stressful situations. In the short term, that response can be helpful. But when stress sticks around for weeks or months, the body starts paying a price: Sleep suffers. Energy drops. Mood changes. Weight increases. Libido drops.

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It takes about two to three months for sperm to be produced, mature and show up in the semen. That is one reason chronic stress may matter more than a short-lived stretch of stress. Months of burnout, poor sleep and constant pressure can start to show up in ways men do not always expect — including fertility.

Chronic stress may also raise oxidative stress in the body, which can damage sperm directly. Research has linked higher stress levels with worse semen parameters, including lower sperm count and poorer sperm movement and shape. One study of more than 1,200 men found that those with the highest stress levels had significantly lower sperm concentration and total sperm count than men with intermediate stress levels.

Why stress and fertility often travel together

Men dealing with chronic stress tend to fall into patterns that compound the problem — they often have poor sleep, exercise less, experience weight gain and have more reliance on substances.

Some are simply too mentally drained to notice what their body has been telling them for months.

When I evaluate men for fertility concerns, I don’t just ask about sex. I ask about all those other factors: sleep, mood, work stress, weight changes, exercise, substance use and overall health. Fertility is usually not one-variable medicine. Issues often stem from several factors moving in the wrong direction at the same time — and stress is frequently what sets them in motion.

When men should get checked

One thing men often miss is that fertility and sexual performance are not the same thing. A man can have no issues in the bedroom and still have underlying sperm problems.

Couples are generally advised to seek fertility evaluation after one year of trying to conceive without success if the female partner is younger than 35, and after six months if she is 35 or older. But you do not have to wait for a problem to get checked.

If you already have risk factors — prior testicular problems, chemotherapy, certain surgeries, genetic conditions or hormone issues — it may be a good idea to get evaluated sooner.

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A semen analysis is often one of the first and most useful steps. It looks at sperm count, movement and shape. Depending on the situation, a more complete workup may also include a physical exam, hormone testing and sometimes imaging or genetic evaluation.

Many tests such as the semen analysis can now be done at home, making that information easier to obtain.

What men can do right now

When I sit with a guy in my office, the first thing I say is that he is not alone, and there are ways we can help. It starts with a conversation, some lab work and an exam. And it takes patience — because improving things down there does not happen overnight.

That does not mean the answer is simply to “relax.” Real stress is real stress. Work demands, financial pressure, family strain and the emotional toll of fertility struggles do not disappear because someone is told to calm down.