TresSugar

New Hope For Infertile Men as Scientists Grow Sperm Outside Body

Natasha Dantzig — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:30:51 PST

Go sperm! We tend to think of infertility mainly as an affliction of the fairer sex, but this is far from the truth: the last 50 years have seen an increase in the problem of male infertility coinciding with a huge decrease in reported sperm counts.

A major breakthrough was made recently as German and Israeli scientists grew mouse sperm outside of the body using just a few cells retrieved from the mouse's testicles. Once created, these sperm samples were tested and found to be genetically and chromosomally sound - meaning they could be used in the conception of baby mice.

Scientists are hopeful that the same techniques used to grow the mouse sperm can be applied to humans, with the life-changing result of previously infertile men being able to biologically father their own offspring.

Heads Up Guys: Your Cell Could Be Reducing Your Sperm Count

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:22:44 PDT

We already know that cell phones might be bad for your health, but a new study shows that they could also be bad for your reproductive goals. According to an Italian report in the Journal of Andrology, cell phones could reduce sperm count.

Though scientists haven't confirmed if a GSM or CDMA signal can inflict more damage, the study did show that men who carry their cell in their front pocket show a lower-sperm concentration. Additionally, test subjects exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (emitted from cell phones) showed decreases in sperm concentration and motility - the ability of a sperm to move toward an egg. That's concerning for any couple trying to conceive.

How can you combat the effects of cell phone radiation on your man's sperm count? Try a man bag - they're so in right now.

If We Can Make Sperm, What Good Are Men?

TresSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

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

Should Mother Be Able to Preserve Son's Sperm?

LilSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:45 PDT

A Texas judged ruled that a mother could preserve her deceased son's sperm. Nikolas Evans, 21, died last week after being attacked in Austin, and his mom, Marisa Evans, requested the sperm so she can fulfill her son's wish of having children. It is said that she will seek a surrogate at a later date. What's your opinion of this situation?

Higher IQ Equals Better Sperm?

DearSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:30:00 PST

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 PST

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 PDT

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 PDT

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,

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 PDT

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 PST

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).

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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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