TresSugar

If We Can Make Sperm, What Good Are Men?

TresSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Have you ever dreamed of a world without men? Some scientists have hoped for years that someday, somehow, they'd create sperm without the mess and fuss of sex and men. Well, that day is near.

Or here, according to one professor at the Northeast England Stem Cell Institute, who says he's doctored up the world's first embryotic sperm. Other sperm specialists (their mothers must be proud) are not so convinced test-tube sperm are up for the swim. Azim Surani, a professor at Cambridge University, said they were "sperm-like cells" and "a long way from being authentic."

So we wait and ask questions, like "what's the point?" Ideally, it would be used to treat infertile men, but you can't clone cells in 2009 and not answer questions like "Are you trying to wipe men off the face of the Earth?" The Guardian has a pair of he-said/she-said pieces musing on such a world without men. He said? You'll be bored, less productive, and too clean. And she said? We'd be peaceful, clean, and . . . bored. Glad we can agree on something!

Photo by Flickr User blmurch

Higher IQ Equals Better Sperm?

DearSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:30:00 -0800

When looking for the right guy, I'm sure you have a list of traits he must possess, such as a good sense of humor, attractive appearance, subtle sensitivity, and an honest heart. A smart guy is a plus, too; intelligence goes a long way in my book, and as it turns out, sharp guys can not only help with your taxes, but they may also help in the baby-making department. Studies show a connection between high IQ and high quality sperm. That means an intelligent man has a higher sperm count, and his sperm are strong, perfectly shaped, and good swimmers. All these characteristics make for one fertile dude, so if you're trying to get pregnant, you might have an easier time with a brainy guy!

Now that's not to say that a non-Harvard graduate has bad sperm. Other factors play into the quality of a man's swimmers, such as exercise, diet, genes, stress level, use of steroids, alcohol consumption, and tobacco and marijuana use. So even if your man isn't well-versed in Shakespeare or can't spell to save his life, he can still father your children - he just may not be able to help them with their geometry homework!

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Need a Reason to Lose Weight?

DearSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0800

If you need another reason to keep your weight down, especially this holiday season, use better sex as your motivator! As stated in the December issue of Glamour magazine, research shows that sustaining a healthy weight can actually boost sex drive and fertility in both men and women. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, explains that extra body fat makes extra estrogen which has the ability to hinder ovulation in women, and new research reveals that those excess pounds on men could damage their precious sperm.

Since exercising gives you those "feel-good endorphins," hit the gym and keep your BMI between 20 and 24.9 - your body and boyfriend will thank you!

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Test Your Sperm Smarts

DearSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If your period has ever been late, you know how scary and stressful it can be if you're not trying to get pregnant. Knowing some basic facts about sperm and the male body can help prevent an unexpected pregnancy, or help you avoid the anxiety of worrying that you are pregnant. So take this short quiz to make sure you're up on your sperm smarts.

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Cell Phone Use May Affect Sperm

DearSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Many people think men have it a lot easier than women when it comes to making babies, but they have to do their part as well - especially when it comes to taking care of their sperm, since so many things can affect them. Eating soy may decrease their sperm count, spending too much time in hot tubs can also have the same effect (although temporarily), and now men have to worry about their cell phones. Yep, it's true. Cell phones are believed to be safe enough to use every day, but now a new study suggests that guys who put their phones in their pockets (on talk mode) while using a headset may have a decrease in the quality of their sperm. It has something to do with their precious business being exposed to cell phone emissions.

To hear the details about the connection between sperm and cell phones, read more.

In this small study, several semen samples (from 32 men) were divided into a control group and a test group. The test group semen was placed 2.5 centimeters from an 850 MHz cell phone in talk mode for one hour (850 MHz is the most commonly used frequency). Researchers found that there was a decrease in antioxidants, which means a decrease in the sperm's quality - the little guys couldn't move with as much agility, and they weren't as strong of swimmers as the sperm in the control group.

Since this was a fairly small study, representatives from cell phone companies are not giving it much merit and men aren't being advised to change their cell phone habits. But if I were a guy, and starting a family was something in my future, I'd definitely find a new place to lay my phone - far away from my boys!

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What's the Connection Between Soy and Sperm Count?

DearSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0700

With all this talk about meat and dairy products causing heart problems, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, more people are switching to alternative foods made with low fat, high protein soy. Tofu, soy milk, and fermented soy products such as tempeh, miso soup, and soy sauce are just a few, and so many people are adding them to their diets to be healthier. Some rumors have been spread that eating soy causes breast cancer, but right now the American Institute for Cancer Research says that there's no evidence that proves this theory. Well that's good news for the ladies, but as far as men go, now there's talk about how soy may affect sperm count. A US study discovered that men who included soy in their diets (equivalent to one cup of soy milk or one serving of tofu every other day) had an average sperm count of 41 million sperm per milliliter less than men who didn't eat soy foods. Geez, that's a huge drop in those little guys!

Now before you freak out, this isn't to say that eating soy affects the chances of having a baby; after all, soy products have been a part of Asian diets for generations with no signs of fertility problems. Also, this study doesn't touch upon the quality of sperm, and since it only takes one good swimmer to make a baby, it seems that more research needs to be done before drawing any conclusions about tofu and fertility. So as with everything, I think moderation is the key.

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What's the Deal With Dry Orgasms?

DearSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:00:00 -0800

A while ago, I answered a question about a woman who was dating a guy who lost both of his testicles in a car accident. It wasn't clear if this man could have an erection or an orgasm, but that post brought up many questions about orgasms and how it's possible to have one if you don't have any semen.

Here's the deal. Some men have what's called a dry orgasm. This means that they can have an erection, but when they climax, no semen gets ejaculated out of the penis. There can be several causes of dry orgasms:

Surgical removal or damage to the testicles, bladder, or prostate.
Radiation therapy directed at the pelvic area (such as for treatment of prostrate cancer).

Click here to read more

Another cause could be something called retrograde ejaculation. Instead of semen coming out of the penis, it gets forced into the bladder when he climaxes. Diabetes or injury to the bladder could cause this condition.

Dry orgasms usually don't present any health problems, but they could prevent a man from being able to father children. The good news is that it's possible to extract sperm from the man and use it to artificially inseminate a woman.

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You Asked: Why Aren't I Getting Pregnant?

DearSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I have been with the same guy for five years and never once got pregnant and we have unprotected sex all the time. Why have I not gotten pregnant? I'm worried that I can't have kids, and if not, what do I do? I really want to be a mom.

-Not Prego Patty

To see Dear Sugar's answer read more

Dear Not Prego Patty,

I totally understand your concern, and there could be several reasons why you haven't gotten pregnant. I assume that you weren't on any kind of hormonal birth control for those five years, but if you were on something like Depo-Provera beforehand, sometimes it can take a while for your body to get back into its normal cycle. If you were not using anything like that, it could be that you haven't had sex on your fertile days. An egg needs to be present in order for you to get pregnant, so if you had sex way before or after ovulation, his sperm wouldn't have an egg with which to unite.

Age and health matter too. If you or your boyfriend has a chronic illness, or if you are over 35, you may have a more difficult time conceiving. There's also a possibility that there's a problem with either your fertility or your guy's sperm. Before jumping to any conclusions, the best plan of action is for both of you to see a doctor. They can ask questions and do tests to help you figure out what may be preventing you from having a baby. They'll also be able to guide you in what the necessary steps would be once you figure out what's going on, and if you do figure out you can't get pregnant, please remember adoption is always an option. I hope this helps. Good luck Patty.

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Hot Tubs and Sperm: What's the Connection?

DearSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:00:00 -0700

I'm sure you've heard that men shouldn't hang out in hot tubs because it can affect their sperm. Is this true or a myth?

Earlier this year, a team of urologists at the University of California conducted a study to test this speculation.

The study observed a group of men who were regularly exposed to hot water temps from hot tubs or hot baths, for at least 30 minutes a week. All the men showed signs of infertility.

What they also found out is that this could quickly be reversed. After these men ditched their hot water excursions, their sperm counts had an increase of 491% after three to six months.

So here's the deal. If a guy is trying to have a baby, he shouldn't be spending time soaking in hot water. If he's not at all thinking about babies, he can love up the hot tub as much as he wants.

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What's the Deal With the Diaphragm?

DearSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:00:00 -0700

I've been talking a lot about many forms of birth control including hormonal ones like the Pill, the Patch, and Depo-Provera, and about barrier methods like the male and female condom. A diaphragm is another form of barrier method, which prevents sperm from getting to your precious eggs.

It is a shallow, bowl-shaped piece of rubber with a flexible rim that fits over your vagina and covers the cervix so sperm can't reach your uterus. Your vaginal muscles keep it in place.

Advantages:

You need to get fitted for one by your gynecologist, but once you have it, and if you take care of it properly, it should last 1-2 years.
It usually can't be felt during sex by either partner.
You can keep it inside you for up to 24 hours.
It doesn't change your menstrual cycle.
It doesn't affect future fertility.

There are unfortunately many disadvantages so click here to read more

Disadvantages:

It's only 84% effective at preventing pregnancy.
It doesn't protect you against STIs.
You have to use it with spermicide, which can be messy and irritating to some women.
More spermicide has to be added every time you have sex.
You have to leave it inside you for at least 6 hours after intercourse
If the diaphragm is left in place for more than 24 hours, the woman runs the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
It's possible that the diaphragm can become dislodged during sex. If that happens, there's a chance you could become pregnant.
It may cause UTIs.
If you gain or lose 10 pounds, you may need to be fitted for a new size.

If you are in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone you know is disease free, this could be a great option for you. Although the fact that it's only 84% effective at preventing pregnancy doesn't make me want to jump up and get one! Talk to your gynecologist about whether a diaphragm is right for you.

Dear's Advice: The natural hormones in a female body affect the position of her cervix throughout her cycle. To ensure a proper fit, women should make sure that she is fitted mid-cycle at the time of ovulation, when her cervix is the highest.

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