It deals with Argentinean scientists’ research with semen. They took samples from 29 healthy men and enacted a situation when a man browses the Internet with a Wi-Fi connection holding his laptop on the knees. After 4 hours of keeping the semen samples under a downloading laptop they registered the following changes: when out of the computer’s vicinity 14% of semen stops swimming around, whereas with the semen placed under the computer it’s 25%, the temperature being the same in both cases. DNA damage registered three percent in Wi-Fi influence-free samples and nine in the samples within the Wi-Fi radiation zone. Researchers are sure that the devastation caused by the Electromagnetic radiation during wireless communication upon the male semen is too great to be ignored. They further placed semen samples under Wi-Fi connected laptops and laptops without wireless Internet access – and got the same result.

It goes to corroborate urologists’ research showing that the temperature of the scrotum of a man balancing a Wi-Fi connected laptop on his knees for a considerable period of time rises to a degree that is detrimental for his reproductive capability.

Nowadays the statistics for the US show that almost 16% of couples are struggling with conceiving problems with the man’s fertility being at fault in 50% of those. The journal also referred to the fact that a diet primarily consisting of fruit and grains and excluding great quantities of red meat, coffee and alcohol increases a man’s chances of getting his partner pregnant and can therefore be regarded as an effective fertility stimulator.

The decrease in sperm concentration is caused by poor nutrition and obesity. These factors also affect the motility of sperm. Proper diet makes pregnancy much more likely.

Fruits and grains are an important component of men‘s nutrition, which increases the quality of sperm. But one should avoid red meat, coffee and alcohol.

The so-called “male factor” is currently very important in the treatment of infertility. Previously it was thought that almost everything depended on the woman, and the inability to conceive was often associated with obesity, smoking, and alcohol. Now, it seems that the same requirements should be presented to both partners.

The researchers insist that the sperm concentration is negatively influenced by such factors as body mass index and alcohol consumption. A positive effect on the concentration and motility of the sperm is observed after consuming grains, as well as practicing split meals (when the number of meals per day increases, and the size of the dishes gets smaller). This has been proved by the leading IVF researcher Edson Borges, working in Sao Paulo, as well as his colleagues in the UK. He studied 250 men, who had passed the IVF procedure. The results were encouraging! A diet with a lot of fruits and grains increases the chances of conception because the quality of sperm is improved by more than 40%.

The researchers have found that men have sharply reduced chances of becoming fathers after 41 years. There were cases when men had babies at the age of 60 as well as after 70 years, but most of them can be treated as the unusual ones.

For a few years, the professionals, who made these conclusions, had been examining the patients undergoing the IVF procedure of extracorporeal fertilization with donor ovules. In this case, the donor ovules were taken only from healthy young women, so any differences in the further course of the process depended on the quality of men’s sperm.

The results of the study are disappointing for men over 41 years. It is at this age that the fertility of men is annually reduced by 7%. It goes on till 45 years this way, and at the age of 45, the rate decreases rapidly. If the chances of 41-year-old men to have a baby are 60%, 45-year-olds have the chance of no more than 35%.

It turns out that men also have the so-called biological clock. It is certainly not the same as that of women. But the research shows that men cannot be equally fertile throughout their life. And it is worth remembering, especially when it comes to the 40th anniversary.

Other studies also do not encourage late fatherhood. For example, there is evidence that the children, whose fathers are of the older age, have the increased risk of heart defects, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Of course, one should not panic because male sperm has the ability to renew, and not all older fathers have unhealthy babies. And for the conception, the health of the ovule is most important.

However, doctors still advise to monitor the quality of sperm. To do this, one needs to eat right, not to smoke, to drink alcohol in moderation, to have an active lifestyle, and to avoid taking hot baths since sperm likes cool temperatures. And do not postpone parenthood until later!

Source of the image: Photl.

The idea of such a database belongs to London Sperm Clinic. In addition to a detailed description of the appearance of the donor, the questionnaires contain the information about one’s personal qualities and hobbies. When delivering their biomaterial to the Bank, the donors fill out a questionnaire and write a brief curriculum vitae explaining the reason that forced them to donate the material to the bank. By the way, most men viewed the donation as the act of philanthropy.

The staff of the clinic, in their turn, describe their impressions of the donor, and their opinion can also be seen in the questionnaire.

Source of the image: Photl.

The new drug temporarily stops sperm production not having a long-term impact on male fertility. It is enough to stop taking it, and spermatogenesis will quickly return to its norm. The action of the pills is based on a complex mechanism in which the male body ceases to recycle vitamin A that is responsible for sperm production. Unlike previous versions of these contraceptives, this pill does not reduce the level of the principal male sex hormone testosterone and does not contain steroids.

The experiments on rodents have not revealed any side effects; the scientists hope to conduct tests on human volunteers in the next few years after which the new drug can be registered and put on sale.

Source of the image: Photl.

This is the conclusion that the researchers from the University of Copenhagen have reached. They studied the relationship between the number of motile sperm and the level of vitamin D in the blood of the volunteers. The two parameters were evaluated among 300 healthy men who were invited to take part in the study. It turned out that the men whose serum did not have enough vitamin D, had less motile sperm. It also turned out that the stimulation of spermatozoa with activated vitamin D can increase the speed of their movement.

However, the scientists warn that this does not mean that supplements with vitamin D can improve the quality of sperm of men who experience certain problems with conceiving. There is only one recommendation so far: if you want to have better sperm, do not ignore the sun. But get sunburnt with moderation!

For information: the time of safe exposure to the sun without a sunscreen is about 15-20 minutes. Still, the doctors recommend not to go out on the street in summer without having used a cream with SPF for your skin, especially during a vacation on the beach.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/clix.

The scientist collected data on 17000 babies born in Britain since 1958.

The scientist divided the subjects into two groups – “attractive” and “unattractive”. The group of participants, who have been considered beautiful since childhood, had boys and girls. However, the subjects in the “average” group had mostly boys.

Thus, men who blame their wives for not bearing sons for them, are simply very handsome and have chosen very beautiful wives.

Source of the image: Photl.

There can be many issues created by infertility and some of them are:

• The emotional agony of not conceiving month after month.
• Tests to figure out the possible problems.
• Finding the right option that may aid in conception.
• The outrageous expense of choosing the medical process of conceiving.

Things to do for the Man Wanting to Conceive

You should convince him that the test is not a struggle to prove his masculinity, but an easy process of sperm donation. A fertility test is actually useful, because it will push away all the emotional troubles and find any possible problems. You should make him understand clearly that the test will speed up your conception process and make you feel much better.

The Sperm Test

The test is indeed nothing to be stressed about. It is very easy, and he may even be allowed to collect his sample at the convenience of your home. If it’s not allowed, then he will be asked to go to a private room and deposit his sample; he will even have access to “appropriate pictures” to help him. Of course, it might feel awkward when he will give over the transparent plastic cup filled with his seeds for future generations, but you will soon laugh it away with friends.

The day of the results is perhaps the toughest at day, especially the part of coping with the outcome. The results depend on two things – the shape and size of the sperm (also called morphology) and their ability to swim (also called mobility).

The Sperm Quality

A sad but unexplainable fact is that men’s sperm has degraded in quality over the last few decades (mobile phones are one of the suspects), so an increasingly number of people have to hear that their sperm are no Michael Phelps. These tragic comments are indeed a punch to the self respect of a man, so it is your duty to be very considerate with him, just like you can expect him to be considerate with you if it was the other way around.

Ask for Medical Help in Case of Male Infertility

But most men don’t have to fear anymore, because modern medical achievements have made it possible to turn even the worst swimmers effective. Their progeny can continue due to the blessings of artificial insemination, fertility drugs and IVF. You should explain all your possible options and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each one. You should unanimously agree on an option and advance.

How to Cope with Male Infertility

The most difficult issue of male infertility is finding a way to alleviate the desperation of their partners for not being able to get pregnant. If a woman decides that they want a baby, they usually become very obsessed with it. This obsession is not easily comprehensible by a man, but this is simply a matter of hormones.

Suggestions for the Would-be Pregnant Woman

Take it easy, because conception can take a while. On average, mid to late 20’s old woman can take up to 4 cycles; the numbers increase with age. If you panic in front of him, then this will only pressurize your man and stress him.

Have Fun While Having Sex

Don’t let your desperation ruin the fun of making a baby.

Seek for Medical Help Together

Visit the doctor together in case you are worried about not becoming pregnant. Decide together if you think testing is required or not.

Ask Other Parents for Advice

Seek advice from friends with kids and ask them what worked for them; convince your man to do the same with you.

Never Pressurize!

There are tons of stories out there that say how a couple gave up after years of trying to have a baby and then finally got pregnant. Statistically it seems that pressure has an effect on your chances of becoming pregnant. So take it easy and find ways to relax.

Think about your fertility

It’s better to decide beforehand what to do if things don’t go according to plan. So talk about the chances of fertility and your possible actions.

Support Each Other

The journey of pregnancy to birth to parenting is an adventure that relies heavily on communication, emotional support and consideration. Infertility is like an assassin as bad as miscarriage, and this causes lots of emotional misery.

Source of the image: Photl.

The survey embraced 3,000 people within the age range of 20-40 years old, more than half of whom gave their votes to LEGO.

With men LEGO is the outright winner, followed in popularity by Game Boy, Transformers and Action Man. Women placed Barbie first, though, LEGO, My Little Pony, Game Boy and Cindy trailing not far behind.

LEGO, a set of colorful construction bricks, was first unveiled in 1949 by the Danish company Lego Group and means “play well” in Danish. The name seems to have been chosen aptly, and LEGO’s spokesperson says they intend to build on the win!

Source of the image: Gizmodo

It is a safe presumption that a convivial, upbeat male is generally able to make more money and bound to have a livelier sexual life… with the possibility of conceiving more babies, which will be limited only by contraception.

On the other hand neurotic women are ever anxious and hungry for more proof of relationship and attachment which is a powerful motivation to have more sex. Therefore when such people couple they are prone to have lots of sex and much more chances to have a larger swarm of children.

This is clearly seen on the example of the African state of Senegal, the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows. This is a nation where the growth of the population is ruled by the established customs of polygamy and a practically total absence of birth control.

The author of the article, Prof. Virpi Lummaa, working at Sheffield University, England, writes “that the link between extroversion and number of children in men is driven by the effects of extroversion on the probability of belonging to the high social class.”

Professor Lummaa states that the conclusions of the study “might be universal across different societies,” the exceptions stipulated by use of contraception solely. The United States, being one of the “low fertility” nations, serves as an excellent confirmation.

The study also underscores that the arguments saying female neuroticism may be the result of having many children rather than the reason for that are untrue.

Source of the image: Photl.com.

One of the main indications of male fertility is the concentration of spermatozoa in ejaculate. Everything’s great if one milliliter of sperm contains over 20 million active spermatozoa and the seminal fluid does not show sings of inflammation. If you have lower concentration, the wrong shape of spermatozoa or the lack of their activity, or abnormal concentration of white blood cells in the sperm this might indicate fertility problems so you will need to undergo medical examination and, possibly, fertility treatment.

Spermogram that even many doctors had no idea about 15 years ago is now one of the staple male medical tests. Clinics have special rooms for taking sperm tests and some medical centers can provide containers to carry sperm from home to laboratory within one hour. Obviously, the procedure is fussy and embarrassing. Designers of a home fertility analyzer, specialists from the Institute for Nanotechnology and the University of Twente in Netherlands, claim their device to be as accurate as laboratory tests while allowing to assess the quality of ejaculate in the privacy of your home. The device let the sperm flow through a micro channel, above which electrodes are fitted to count spermatozoa by separating them from other cells. If there is a need, though, the device can count other cells, too. Scientists believe that this is enough for early diagnosis of infertility.

Spermatozoa are vulnerable to psychological stress. Psychologists say that the stress related to awkward sperm tests performed in unfamiliar surroundings can be detrimental to the quality of sperm. Home fertility analyzer can let men avoid awkward sperm test procedure and save their time because spermogram have to be repeated two to five times in a special lab that can’t be found at any town. It will also make wives’ life easier, awaiting for the test results. You do the test, get your result and take action. Pregnancy planning can be a bit easier. However, there is one “but”: it’s now uncertain when the test will go on sale.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/clix.

The study involved 2,500 young men. Those who drank more than a liter of cola every day had an average of 35 million spermatozoa in one milliliter of sperm compared to 50 million spermatozoa in men who didn’t drink cola. Researchers do not link contraceptive effects of cola to caffeine. Actually, it is now not clear if the caffeine is to blame.

Scientists commented on the findings in American Journal of Epidemiology stating that people who like soft drinks, as a general rule, have unhealthy lifestyle, they lack physical activity and love junk food.

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/abanyai.

Acting on this year’s Ondine, Colin caught Alicja in his fishing net, and now look what the romantic meeting has come to!

The baby Henry Tadeusz is Colin’s second child, the first one born in a previous relationship.

Source of the image: charlotteobserver.com.

The man begins to feel as if he were pregnant himself – he has bouts of nausea, his food preferences may change, his appetite varies and he may suffer from indigestion, his weight may also be affected. There are cases when experiences like labor pains and contractions were recorded in a male while his partner was in labor.

Statistic says that almost 80 % of men whose partner is with child react to her condition displaying sympathetic pregnancy in various degrees.

There is no clear-cut scientific explanation as to what may cause sympathetic pregnancy. Mostly it is explained from the psychological point of view.

The explanation that came down from the ancient times brings these symptoms down to anxiety, worry or depression the man may feel at the idea of a child coming into the family.

Nowadays some psychologists put it down to the man being envious of the important role the woman begins to acquire both in the family and in the life of the coming child. Sympathetic pregnancy is either a way to steal a part of the limelight or the desire to share the woman’s sensations. With some men it may be a wish to stake a claim on as important part in the child’s life as that of the mother.

Another theory links this phenomenon with gender roles in relationships. The man who preferred – or was pressed into – a role traditionally attributed to women may thus try to take on this female task along with some others.

There is even a theory that approaches pregnancy symptoms in men from the physical point of view. A long-term coexistence of two people who are close to each other may result in changing the man’s testosterone and estrogen balance which can bring on the appearance of the relevant symptoms.

You cannot be 100% sure that the symptoms you observe signify sympathetic pregnancy. It may as well be a sign of other health problems assailing your husband. Still, there are cases when the man is feeling exactly same that you are, and it may be so strong that he will have to stay off his work for a while!

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/bies.

Many men claim that they start eating more as a sign of solidarity with their pregnant wives who get upset because of the pregnancy-related high appetite. In addition, many husbands also claim that there are more snacks in the house during those nine months and thus they are constantly tempted to have a snack.

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/rodrigo_siqueira.

During the study 116 men suffering from infertility issues were supposed to make sex daily for a week. As a result, 4 out of 5 men showed 12% decrease in DNA malfunctions. Additionally, the number of spermatozoons fell from 180 millions to 70 million, but the latter grew more active.

David Greening’s findings in fact contradict the current approach to male infertility treatment which suggests that men should abstain from sex for a few days to improve fertility.

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/mazelx.