Health & Fertility Archives - Phoenix Sperm Bank

Types Of Tissue Donations

There are all types of ways of providing worthwhile donations to people in need. Tissue donations can help save lives or provide much-needed treatment support. At Phoenix Sperm Bank, we are a sperm bank and this is just one type of tissue donation that provides treatment support. We’re going to take a look at different types of tissue donations that are beneficial for a wide range of individuals. Blood Donations Blood donations are probably the most well-known type of tissue donation. Blood drives are hosted throughout Phoenix year long. There are increases in blood donation drives during times of national

The Evolution of Sperm

Does size matter? When talking about sperm, recent research suggests that it might. According to a study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the size of sperm may be affected by where it fertilizes the female’s egg. All sexually reproducing species create sperm to fertilize eggs. But it turns out the size of sperm can range dramatically because they are among the most diverse cells in animals, including humans. To test how sperm size changes over time, evolutionary biologists compared the behavior of sperm in external fertilizers with those of internal fertilizers. External fertilizers include animals like fish,

The Covid Vaccine and Sperm Health — What We Know Now

According to a new study, sperm count and quality did not decrease for healthy men who received the first or second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in June 2021, provide evidence that it is highly unlikely that immunization from these two sources compromises male fertility. The research only applied to vaccines based on mRNA platforms, which Pfizer and Moderna both used. The Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines are based on different genetic material, so were not part of this study. Still, experts say that all

How Cleaning Products Can Impact Fertility

Since many of us use common cleaning products on a daily basis, it can be easy to overlook their potential negative effects. While most cleaning and disinfecting products are safe at low levels of exposure, those known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are in some products, can harm fertility in men and women. These include widely used compounds such as Bisphenol A, phthalates, and parabens, which clinical research has shown to affect sperm production and decrease overall sperm health. To help you mitigate the potential risks of EDCs, we suggest taking the following actions. Buy organic produce. Choosing organic fruits

Why is Male Fertility Decreasing?

Currently, more than 80 countries, including the U.S., have birth rates below the population replacement level of 2.1 births. By 2050, it is expected that 75% of all nations will have a birth rate that is lower than population replacement. At the same time, the number of births per person has declined from 5 in 1964 to 2.4 in 2018. There are multiple reasons for the decline in births and contributing factors include people choosing to have smaller families, changing cultural norms, having kids later in life, and the rising costs of raising children. But there may also be a

How Stress Affects Sperm Health

Let’s face it: 2020 boosted anxiety levels for virtually everyone. But stress is a part of life during less difficult times, too. Yet even when we are experiencing stress, its effects can be difficult to measure. A recent study co-sponsored by the Danish Ministry of Health set out to measure the effects of psychological stress on male fertility specifically. The purpose of the study was to find any possible connections between stress and testicular function among a group of 1,362 men with the median age of 19. The study included semen and blood samples as well as a questionnaire that

How Does Marijuana Use Affect Sperm Health?

In November 2020, residents of Arizona voted to approve Proposition 207, which legalized the possession and use of marijuana in the state. New Jersey, South Dakota, and Montana passed similar legislation this year, bringing the total number of states where marijuana is legal to 15. At Phoenix Sperm Bank, we regularly get questions from donors and potential donors about how pot affects sperm count and overall sperm health. And now that it’s legal in Arizona, more men may be wondering the same thing. So we’ve looked at the latest studies and reports to help you better understand the possible connections

The Link Between Diet and Sperm Quality

Making healthy lifestyle choices improves not just your fertility but your overall health. No surprise there. Regular exercise, moderate alcohol use, avoiding tobacco, and maintaining a healthy weight for your body size all contribute to good health and good sperm production. However, it is possible for you to practice healthy habits and still have a below average sperm count. Fortunately, there are ways to improve sperm health by focusing on your diet. Below are some of the vitamins and minerals that can help boost male fertility. You can get these through a variety of foods, by taking nutritional supplements, or

How Chemotherapy Affects Sperm Count and Fertility

Though fairly rare overall, testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer among men 15 to 34 years of age. It is also one of the most treatable forms, with a cure rate of about 96% when caught in its early stages. Until recently, not much was known about the effects of treatment on male fertility. But according to a new study published in the Annals of Oncology, there is good news for men who must undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat testicular cancer. This research showed that one round of post-operative chemotherapy or radiotherapy did not reveal long-term

How Your Underwear Affects Sperm Production

Good news! One of the most effective ways to improve your sperm production is also one of the easiest: keep your testicles cool. And the type of underwear you choose to wear can have a measurable effect on the health of your sperm. More than 30 years’ worth of studies already reveal that chronically elevated scrotal temperatures can negatively affect sperm production. Now, there’s further proof. An August 2018 study published in the journal Human Reproduction highlighted how men’s choice of underwear affected sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total motile count. The study showed that men who wore loose-fitting

Tips for Reducing Stress and Improving Male Fertility

Multiple scientific studies over the past 20 years have revealed possible links between psychological stress and infertility. Studies found that men who feel stressed are more likely to experience decreased testosterone, lower sperm count, abnormal sperm production, and decreased sperm motility, the function that allows sperm to move. And all of this can negatively affect overall fertility. Some factors affecting male fertility, such as age, genetics, and disease, are beyond your control. To make matters worse, the pace and pressures of modern life can also cause psychological stress and contribute to male infertility issues. Your lifestyle choices also play a

Why you should store your sperm for later in life

Storing Sperm Offers You More Choice Later in Life

According to the results of a 2014 study of 2.4 million children in Sweden, men who wait longer to start families are at increased risk of having children with psychiatric disorders. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry, compared men over 45 with a group of 20-24 year old men. It concluded that advancing paternal age was associated with increased risk of autism, psychosis, bipolar, and other disorders in their offspring. These findings are backed by many other studies showing a marked decline in fertility for men over 40 years of age. This is why