Does the use of steroids affect sperm and fertility? Definitely, steroids can be very harmful to men’s health. Sometimes taking this would be helpful for your performance but it can be dangerous in a way, steroids or any drug can damage the quality and the quantity of the sperm. Only a good sperm fertilizes the woman’s egg. Today we are going to discuss how steroids affect sperm and fertility.

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What are Steroids?

Drugs which are commonly mentioned as “steroids” are classified as corticosteroids or anabolic (or anabolic-androgenic) supplements. Basically, steroids are used for enhancing your muscles, increasing the strength of the muscle. Usually, sports person or fitness freaks use these steroids.

1. Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids, like- cortisone, are the drugs which are prescribed by the doctors to help you to control inflammation. It also helps to control conditions like asthma and lupus.

2. Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones which can boost the body’s ability to produce muscle and prevent muscle breakdown. Some sports person take steroids in the hope that they will improve their ability to run faster, play actively, lift heavier weights, jump higher, or have more endurance.

Why Do People Use Steroids?

Most of the professional players and stars have been accused of and in some cases have admitted to using steroids to give them an edge competitively. Steroid use is trickled down to younger athletes too, who face pressure to be stronger and faster and to make it to college and professional leagues.

Ways to Keep your Sperm Healthy:

Most men don’t give much thought to the quality of their sperm until it’s time to start a family. In fact, there is a lot you can do before that, to increase the chance of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, when the time is right. Men need large numbers of good quality sperm which move well, to fertilize the woman’s egg.

There are some ways you can protect your sperm, to increase your chances of becoming a father.

1. Sperm Health

As sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone, are made in the testes. Sperm travel with fluid made in a man’s reproductive system, and are released (ejaculated) during sexual orgasm.

The quality and health of a man’s sperm can be grandiose by:

• His age

• Smoking

• Being overweight

• Sexually transmitted infections

2. Heat

Testes need to be a few degrees cooler than the rest of the body to make good quality of sperm. This is why they sit in the scrotum which acts as an evaporative air conditioning system at a lower temperature than the rest of the body. It gets too hot around the testes, they can have problems making sperm.

You can keep your testes cool by:

• Avoiding regular, very hot baths or spas

• Always keep your laptop and mobile phone away from your lap

• Maintain a healthy weight and avoid becoming overweighted

• Wearing loose-fitting rather than tight underwear

3.Injury

The hit or kicked in the testes can cause damage and therefore affect the fertility. Make sure to protect them. If your job puts your testes at risk of injury, don’t forget protection while playing the sport.

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How Smoking, Alcohol, and Drugs Make Lower the Chance of Fertility?

1. Smoking and Tobacco:

According to the study in the association between tobacco smoking and male infertility and/or suboptimal sperm production, consumption of these things might increase the risk of infertility in a person. Based on a review of observational studies on smoking and semen parameters, it is found that 20 of the 25 studies reported an increased risk of lower sperm concentration in smokers compared to non-smokers. On average, sperm concentration was 13%- 14% lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. Smoker has a lower risk of sperm which was motile (moving or swimming) and morphologically normal (sperm with a correct body shape), compared to non-smoking men.

2. Alcohol

Excessive alcohol lowers the testosterone levels and sperm quality and the quantity in men. It can also reduce libido, and cause impotence. If a man drinks a lot of alcohol it can really reduce the chances of conceiving.

3. Steroids/ Drugs

Anabolic steroids harm male fertility the same way as testosterone does: by interfering with the hormone signals which are needed to produce sperm. Though, how much damage is done depends on the drugs, dose and for how long the man takes them.

Foods Which can Improve the Sperm Count:

Here are 8 foods which improve the sperm count:

• Banana

• Tomatoes

• Fatty Fish

• Walnuts

• Carrot and lettuce

• Citrus Fruits

• Eggs

• Oysters

Conclusion

Today we have discussed does the use of steroids affect sperm and fertility. The best way to make your sperm good is to stop smoking, less intake of alcohol and drugs because this makes your sperm count low and lower the chance to become a father. If there is any problem with fertilizing, immediately consult a doctor as soon as possible.

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