Sugary Drinks Damage Semen Quality, Leads to Infertility in Men

Addiction to sugary drinks can leave a negative impact on the semen quality and reduce a man's chances of becoming a father, a new study says.

In the study, regular consumption of sugary drinks lowered sperm motility in men. However, the association was found applicable to only healthy and lean men and not those who are obese or overweight, Livescience reported.

The study reported in the journal Human Reproduction included 189 men, aged between 18 and 22, hailing from Rochester in New York. As part of the study, the participants underwent physical examination and completed a health and diet questionnaire. Researchers interviewed the participants and noted down the frequency and number of sugar-sweetened drinks they consumed every day.

High consumption of sugar sweetened drinks, i.e. an average of 2.7 per day in healthy, thin men was associated with 6.3 percent lowered sperm motility (ability of sperm to move toward egg) compared to those who reported taking less than a drink daily. Researchers couldn't find such results in obese or overweight men. Additionally, men who reported drinking more sugary drink, both lean and obese men had reduced levels of a reproductive hormone follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH plays a major role in regulation of sperm production.

The growing number of infertile couple across the globe has invited wide attention lately. In 90 percent of the cases, low sperm count and poor sperm quality play major roles. Male fertility is decided by three factors- quantity (15 million sperm millilitre in a single semen ejaculation), quality (more number of sperms with oval heads and long tails) and finally movement of at least 40 percent of the sperm (ability of the sperm to swim through woman's cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes), according to the Mayo Clinic in US.

Tips to Remain Fertile

• Follow healthy lifestyle by eating healthy, managing weight and remaining active
• Avoid multiple sex partners and use safety measures like condom as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can damage male fertility
• Try to remain cool as exposure to stress can damage fertility

Some Research-Proven Risk Factors

• Regular exposure to hot baths or Jacuzzis
• Overheating of testicles through fever, tight underwear like boxer shorts, saunas, prolonged sitting, warm clothes
• Varicocele, an enlarged varicose vein in testicle and scrotum
• Excess use of electronic devices including laptops and cell phones
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Alcohol addiction
• Drugs

Health experts recommend couple who fail to conceive after constant trying for one year to seek medical help.