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Pregnancy begins with sperm streaking swimming into the woman's uterus to fertilize an egg. However, poor sperm quality can hinder this process, possibly even thwarting it. Even pregnancy cannot occur. What can cause healthy sperm to decline in quality - or even die altogether?

Various things can reduce sperm quality

1. Use a spermicide lubricant (spermicide)

Some sex lubricants contain the preservative hydrochloric acid, which can reduce sperm quality and decrease male fertility. The thick lubricant consistency also makes sperm movement in the vagina weaker.

In addition, there are lubricants that contain the spermicide nonoxynol-9. This lubricant can kill sperm or stop its movement before it can swim into the uterus.

2. Stress

A study found that sustained severe stress can actually affect fertility and increase the risk of infertility in men. Men who are constantly under stress tend to have poorer sperm quality than men who can manage stress well.

This is because very high levels of stress hormones can suppress testosterone levels so that they interfere with the process of forming healthy sperm in the testes. Severe stress is also linked to inflammation that can kill sperm when they are newly produced.

3. Eat lots of processed food

Researchers at Harvard found that of 155 men, people who ate mostly processed meats such as sausages, corned beef, nuggets, and other processed meats had the lowest sperm counts and defective shapes than men who were used to eating healthier, especially fresh fish high in omega-3s. such as salmon and tuna.

The chemicals in processed meat products can inhibit the production of the hormone testosterone, thereby reducing sperm count and quality. Meanwhile, omega-3 fatty acids in fish can promote the formation of healthy and not easily damaged sperm.

4. Keep the cellphone in the pants pocket

Cell phones can degrade sperm quality, or even kill them, if you put them in your pants pocket close to your testicles.

Cellphone signal radiation delivers heat energy which can cause damage to the DNA of sperm cells, thereby reducing sperm agility by up to 8 percent. Heat from the body smartphone it also increases the temperature inside the testicles and inhibits the production of new sperm.

If you have to carry your cell phone with you all day, it's best to keep it in your jacket pocket or put it in a bag.

5. Drinking too much alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can also reduce testosterone levels. This has an impact on the number of healthy sperm produced to be lower than before.

In addition, the movement of the sperm is also less agile, and the shape of the sperm is less than perfect.

6. Sleep late

Men who are used to sleeping late and staying up late (sleeping less than 6 hours per night) have decreased fertility by 31% than men who can regularly sleep 7-8 hours per night.

Lack of sleep affects the production of the hormone testosterone, which is very important in producing sperm.

7. Often eat junk food

Junk food can also make sperm die. A study shows that foods high in saturated fat like junk food cause deteriorating spherical quality characterized by weak swimming motion and abnormal shape. Saturated fat also reduces the production of healthy sperm.

Men who regularly eat junk food have 43% less sperm counts, so their sperm is up to 38 percent thinner.

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