For the first time, a study associates poor quality sperm with a risk of developing pathologies such as hypertension, skin diseases and hormonal disorders. From the age of 30, men can be affected. A study from the Stanford University School of Medicine in the United States recommends that men with fertility issues to do a complete health “check up” to detect any warning signs of certain pathologies.
“About 15% of couples have fertility problems, and half of them are caused by deficient sperm in the man, explains Dr. Michael Eisenberg, author of the study. We should pay more attention to these millions of men. Because infertility and reproductive issues can reveal more serious health issues.”
For the purposes of the study, 9,387 men between the ages of 30 and 50 were followed between 1994 and 2011 to determine the cause of their infertility. 44% of the participants, with an average age of 38, had other health problems in addition to their infertility, such as diseases of the circulatory system, high blood pressure, heart or vascular disease.
The results also show a correlation between increased fertility problems and an increased risk of skin disease or hormonal disorders.
For Dr. Eisenberg, these associations are not surprising: “15% of genes in humans are directly related to reproduction. And most of these genes perform different functions in the organism”.
Sperm quality goes hand in hand with general health, and therefore should not be overlooked in the event of male fertility problems, concludes the researcher.
The study appeared in the scientific journal Fertility and Sterility.
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