Poor Sperm Quality May Suggest Other Health Issues

Poor sperm quality may not just be a sign of infertility, but serious health problems, as well.

"We found a lot of correlations between semen production and medical conditions that we never knew about," said lead study author Michael Eisenberg, a Stanford's male reproductive medicine and surgery director, in a news release.

For the study, researchers examined 9,000 male subjects that were seeking help for infertility problems over the period of 1994 to 2011. Many of the connected medical issues ran from heart and vascular problems to high blood pressure, endocrine disorder and skin problems.

Health officials recommend that men have their semen production checked along with overall fertility and general health. Oftentimes, poor semen quality can be a sign of potentially serious medical conditions that need to be addressed.

"We should be paying more attention to these millions of men. Infertility is a warning: Problems with reproduction may mean problems with overall health," added Eisenberg.

Though the study results provide insight into what fertility specialists can provide, health officials also recommend certain lifestyle changes such as exercising and giving up nasty habits like smoking or alcohol to improve count.

"Many things we didn't know about or think about may impact a man's fertility," he concluded, via HealthDay News.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Fertility and Sterility.

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