Men, these 8 habits could be hurting your sperm

After years of avoiding fatherhood, you may be surprised when the time comes to start a family, only to find that conceiving isn’t as easy as you thought.

Shockingly, 1 in 8 couples face difficulties with getting pregnant, and men’s reproductive health is often a contributing factor.

Many men unknowingly engage in habits that could harm their sperm quality. Everyday actions can easily compromise your fertility without you realising it.

Here are eight common ways this can happen, supported by insights from health experts and scientific studies:

1. Tight Underwear
Wearing tight underwear increases scrotal temperature, which may negatively affect sperm production. A Harvard University study found that men who wore boxer shorts had a higher sperm concentration than those who wore briefs.

Damayanthi Durairajanayagam and her team, in their study Causes, Effects, and Molecular Mechanisms of Testicular Heat Stress, revealed that heat stress caused by tight clothing can impair sperm quality and heighten the risk of infertility.

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2. Hot Baths
Extended exposure to hot water, such as during baths or saunas, can raise testicular temperature, impacting sperm health. According to urologist Dr. Emin Özbek, “Saunas and exposure to hot conditions have long been a part of various cultural practices, offering relaxation and health benefits. However, elevated temperatures from such environments can temporarily affect sperm production and quality.” The testicles are positioned outside the body to maintain a temperature slightly lower than core body temperature—ideal for sperm production.

3. Infections
Infections such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause inflammation and harm sperm quality.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that untreated infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to infertility. Being vigilant about your sexual health is crucial to preserving fertility.

4. Varicoceles
A varicocele occurs when the veins in the scrotum become enlarged, leading to overheating and impaired sperm production.

Research from the Cleveland Clinic indicates that 40% of men with fertility issues suffer from varicoceles. While surgical intervention is often debated, with some experts advocating for its use only in a select group of infertile men, the condition remains one of the most common contributors to male infertility, as explained in the study Male Infertility and Varicocele: Myths and Reality.

5. Laptops
Resting a laptop on your lap for long periods generates heat, raising scrotal temperature, which may be harmful to sperm.
A study, Increase in Scrotal Temperature in Laptop Computer Users, found that the heat from laptops increases the risk of scrotal hyperthermia, negatively affecting sperm production. Switching to a desk or using a cooling pad can reduce this risk.

6. Drugs
Recreational drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, and opioids can significantly lower sperm count and quality. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that men who frequently used these drugs had reduced sperm motility.

In addition, drugs such as cannabis, heroin, and cocaine can lower testosterone levels, affecting fertility. Cannabis, in particular, has been linked to a reduction in sperm count, semen volume, and sperm motility, according to a fertility clinic’s findings.

7. Mobile Phones
Keeping mobile phones in your pocket, close to the testicles, exposes them to radiofrequency electromagnetic waves, which may harm sperm.

Research published in Environmental International found a correlation between mobile phone radiation and reduced sperm viability. Chidiebere Okechukwu’s study Does the Use of Mobile Phones Affect Male Fertility? A Mini-Review concluded that both animal and human sperm exposed to mobile phone radiation showed reduced motility, structural anomalies, and increased oxidative stress.

8. Smoking
Smoking is bad for the lungs, but it also harms sperm by damaging their DNA.
Jing-Bo Dai, Zhao-Xia Wang, and Zhong-Dong Qiao’s study The Hazardous Effects of Tobacco Smoking on Male Fertility revealed that smoking reduces semen quality, affecting sperm density, motility, viability, and morphology. Smoking also disrupts the reproductive hormone system and the sperm maturation process.

By making small lifestyle adjustments, men can improve their reproductive health and increase their chances of conceiving when the time comes. A few changes today could make a world of difference tomorrow.