Latest news with #maleinfertility
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
‘More responsibility': Fertility expert's urgent warning to men
Fertility experts are warning that age and lifestyle choices are jeopardising Australian men's chances of becoming fathers. Male infertility accounts for one-third of fertility issues, yet many men don't adjust their habits ahead of conception. With the median age of Australian fathers now at 33.8 (compared to 29 years in 1977), there is an even greater need for men to transform their habits before trying to conceive. Emma Ebinger, National Scientific Director at Adora Fertility, says that it's time to reframe fertility as a shared responsibility, not just a women's issue. 'I think men sometimes don't stop to give enough thought about their role and what they could be doing to improve their chances of success,' she tells She notes that it can take around two and a half months for sperm to form in the body, and during that time, their quality can be influenced by factors such as smoking, drugs, diet, and alcohol. Vaping may also impair fertility – just as much as cigarettes can – with studies linking e-cigarettes to reduced sperm count, motility, and DNA integrity. 'All of these lifestyle and environmental effects are known as epigenetics as they can impact the sperm's DNA,' she says. 'The sperm contributes 50 per cent of the DNA to the developing foetus, which is the biological blueprint of the developing baby.' She advises men to also be aware of 'endocrine-disrupting chemicals' – found in plastics, solvents, paints, cosmetics, and textiles – which can negatively affect fertility by impacting hormones responsible for sperm production. 'It can be really hard to avoid these chemicals completely, but minimising the use of plastics in your daily life, such as not reheating food in takeaway containers or drinking from disposable water bottles, is advisable,' Ms Ebinger notes. Additionally, Ms Ebinger suggests limiting activities that excessively raise their surrounding temperature, such as very hot baths, spas, and sauna sessions. This is because male testicles are located outside the body as they require slightly cooler conditions for sperm production than body temperature. So, what can men do to enhance their fertility? Ms Ebinger emphasises that it is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but overall lifestyle changes are encouraged to ensure that a couple is in the best physical shape possible before having a baby. Cutting back on alcohol, avoiding smoking and recreational drugs, consuming whole foods, and engaging in regular exercise are all important components of the puzzle. Regarding when men should begin making these lifestyle changes prior to attempting conception, she says three months beforehand is a good guideline. 'It's a great time for them to have an overall health check-up with their GP as well and address any ongoing health concerns they may have,' she adds. 'There is some scientific evidence that taking antioxidant supplements may also help in ensuring the sperm is as healthy as possible, but these should be taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle.' Karlee and Jason Sondergeld, from Townsville, struggled with infertility for two years before welcoming a baby via IVF in December 2023. The couple, both 30, were deeply committed to making positive lifestyle changes on their journey to conceive. 'We wanted to give ourselves the best possible chance to start a family,' they said. 'We started looking into the role that male fertility plays in conception, and we changed our diet, reducing stress, getting quality sleep, cutting back on alcohol, taking a good quality male fertility supplement, and just being more mindful of our overall health, which meant we had a lot more energy and a clearer headspace.' Leaning on each other for support was crucial during the oftentimes emotional process. 'For me as a male partner, I think there can be a feeling of helplessness, especially during the parts where most of the physical burden is on your partner,' Mr Sondergeld explained. 'But I tried my hardest to stay really involved, which helped me feel connected and supportive.' Following the birth of their baby Rylan, they credited the small changes they made that helped with fertility. 'Even if you're just starting to consider IVF or fertility support, taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle together can make a huge difference, both physically and mentally,' they advised. 'Be kind to yourselves and remember you're not failing, you're just taking a different path to parenthood. And the path is valid, still powerful, and still full of a lot of love.'
Daily Telegraph
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Telegraph
'I got told that I had zero sperm - I felt like I wasn't a man'
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parenting. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sam Hargraves had been moments away from going on air when a phone call changed everything. Suddenly, the Melbourne sport broadcaster was faced with a battle he could never have anticipated. One that made him question the very essence of what it means to be a man. 'I got told that I had zero sperm," Sam told Kidspot. 'I remember straight away feeling like, oh, then that means I'm not a man.' Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. RELATED: 'Why dad alone, when we can dad together?' "I've got a hunch and I might have a problem and I want to go get it tested" This week, during Men's Mental Health Week, Sam is using his platform to amplify the conversation around male infertility. He wants to make one thing critically clear: 'What defines you as a man is what's in your heart. Not in your testicles.' It's a perspective he's gained through a journey that many men might shy away from. Sam, and his partner Evie, had been trying to conceive naturally for a while before turning to a fertility specialist. While Evie had her own infertility struggles, Sam had a feeling that the issue could equally be on his end. 'I think I just bit the bullet and said, 'I've got a hunch, I might have a problem and I want to go get it tested,'' Sam explained. The test itself was a piece of cake. 'I've said to a few men and a few mates, without being crass, this is something you've been practicing for your whole life. This is the easiest thing you'll ever do,' he said. 'I thought I was prepared for the worst. I really still wasn't." Sam was told by doctors that he had zero sperm. Not a single one. 'All at once I felt embarrassed. I felt ashamed. I felt less than. Like I'm not a man,' he revealed. He also felt as if he'd let his partner down, who he knew wanted so badly to be a mum. His mental health took a hit from the news. One of his first calls was to his dad. 'I burst into tears and even said to him, 'I'm not a real man.' He just said, 'Well, you know, that's not true,'' Sam recalled. This week, during Men's Mental Health Week, Sam is using his platform to amplify the conversation around male infertility. Image: Supplied RELATED: Toddler's heartbreaking plea to dad after welcoming newborn sibling 'I don't think anyone grows up wanting to be the face of men's infertility" Sam is far from alone in experiencing male infertility. 'Sperm problems are more common than people realise. Male factors contribute to around 30-40% of infertility cases,' Doctor Chandrika Parmar told Kidspot. The Director and fertility specialist, at Genea in Melbourne, says the concern arises from two main causes: obstructive azoospermia (due to a physical blockage in the reproductive tract, caused by past infections, surgeries or injury) or non-obstructive (when the testicles don't produce sperm properly due to hormone imbalances, genetic conditions or damage from treatments). But the good news: testing is straightforward and there are many options for men who face sperm difficulties. 'For men with low sperm count, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, improving diet, and managing stress can help,' Doctor Parmar said. 'Even in cases of azoospermia, there are still options, including surgical sperm retrieval or donor sperm.' Sam credits his support network, specifically his partner Evie, as what got him through the difficult times. 'She was amazing. She was incredible and still is to this day. She's a superhero,' Sam boasted. Despite heartbreaking setbacks along the way, they didn't stop fighting for a second, and were able to achieve their dream family thanks to the common and successful approach of IVF with ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). 'We now have not one, but two miracles and we're incredibly lucky,' Sam shared. "I would love more men to be able to have these conversations" Now, through his story, Sam wants other men to know that one of the most powerful things they can do in the face of infertility is to talk about it. 'I don't think anyone grows up wanting to be the face of men's infertility, but I would love more men to be able to have these conversations,' Sam said. 'If you were asked to list the best qualities about yourself or the best qualities about a man you admire, at no stage would you ever say that one of the things you admire most about that person or yourself is a high sperm count.' In fact, the process has shown Sam exactly what he admires about himself. 'I reckon I've become a better man since I found out that I was shooting blanks,' he explained. 'Because what I went about doing to help with that process with exercise, diet, my relationship with alcohol. I've actually because of it become a better man and therefore I've become a better father off the back of infertility.' Originally published as 'I got told that I had zero sperm - I felt like I wasn't a man'
News24
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
The fast and the fertile: SA-born student wins world's first sperm-racing competition
Conceived by a group of millionaire teenagers, the world's first sperm race – yes, really – was held at a Hollywood movie and TV studio, and livestreamed to home viewers. Sperm from two Los Angeles-based university students, Tristan Milker (20) from Cape Town and Asher Proeger (19), went head-to-head in a microscopic, 20-cm-long racetrack designed to mimic the uterus. The race – or rather, an animated version of it – was shown on big screens at the $1,5-million (R27m) event, attended by about 400 people, and livestreamed for home viewers last month. Eric Zhu (17), Nick Small (16) and influencer Shane Fan (22) are the co-founders of the Sperm Racing initiative. 'It's about making male fertility something people actually want to talk about, track and improve. We're taking a topic no one wants to touch and making it interesting, measurable and weirdly changing this paradigm,' they said on their website. While some research suggests male fertility has declined in the past four decades due to environmental and health factors, the speed or motility of sperm has no effect on male fertility – it's the sperm count that matters. This decline has been blamed on factors including obesity, sedentary lifestyles, smoking and exposure to certain chemicals and pesticides. Once Tristan and Asher's sperm were collected, the sperm cells were isolated and only the spermatozoa was collected for the race. A mild electrical current encouraged the racing sperm to stay on track, as sperm naturally swims upstream. Tristan won two out of the three two-minute races, and took home $10 000 (R180 000). Some controversy followed the race, with reports Eric had admitted the winner was known in advance because the races were recorded an hour earlier, and the footage was edited to make things 'more interesting'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BeastChild (@bstchld) 'I'm so proud,' the arts, technology and business student from University of Southern California said. 'I came to win.' Eric is adamant that his event 'isn't just a joke. It's not just some viral idea for the internet to laugh at. It's something much bigger. Male fertility is declining, like, a lot', he said. 'It's happening quietly, steadily and nobody's really talking about it.' A few days after the race, Eric posted on Instagram that he'd 'raised a new round' of funding – though he didn't share details, only that a new event would be announced soon. He has, however, expressed hopes that sperm racing might someday be an Olympic event.
