Obesity and semen quality

Although no longer a controversial issue, obesity is increasingly linked with fertility problems of men, always in relation to semen quality. And, in fact, has been added to the list of risk factors for male infertility, next to snuff, alcohol, drug use, exposure to toxic agents, some diseases or treatment with certain drugs.

However, all that has been shown so far is that overweight (defined by a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25) and waist circumference are directly related to lower semen volume and sperm concentration less . But they have not obtained conclusive evidence of how it affects motility and morphology thereof.

The truth is that the sperm of obese men have a lower presence of testosterone and other hormones than those who are not overweight, which can be related to a decreased testicular function (hypogonadism) which adversely affect the parameters that determine male fertility : concentration, motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation.

A study conducted at Stanford University in which the semen of 468 men of couples who wanted to have a child was analyzed has revealed that BMI and waist circumference adversely affect ejaculate volume and in the number of sperm per milliliter of semen

However, these data alone do not say much, because they are considered normal seminal volume of between 1.5 and 5 milliliters. Furthermore, this study did not detect a relationship between BMI and waist circumference with a higher or lower sperm count, reduced sperm vitality or an increase of malformed sperm.

In fact, some of the men included in the study had had at least one child previously. In conclusion, therefore, only I could ensure that obesity may influence the degree of male fertility, but does not establish a cause-effect relationship between excess weight and infertility.

Semen and other studies of semen quality (FISH and TUNEL)

Determine the quality of semen or semen by seminogragrama is one of the basic tests done to couples who resort to assisted reproduction clinics for not getting pregnant.Not surprisingly, in half the cases the problem is caused infertility in men and most of the time by a low seminal quality.

In this test the semen is analyzed from both macroscopic and microscopic perspective and different aspects are studied:

  

• Semen volume and characteristics: it is considered normal when the volume is above 1.5 milliliters. The pH should exceed 7.2 and the concentration of citric acid and fructose must be at least 52 micromoles and 13, respectively.
• Sperm concentration per unit volume: must be above 15 million per milliliter. All values ​​are considered pathological below concerning fertility (oligozoospermia).
• Motility (ability to move) sperm: there must be at least 32% of progressive motile sperm. Lower values ​​define the existence of a asthenozoospermia.
• Sperm morphology: for there is no teratozoospermia the proportion of spermatozoa with proper morphology (head and tail) should exceed 4%.

         

Sometimes, in addition to semen carried out additional tests to analyze or select higher quality sperm and can enhance the success of assisted reproduction procedures:

      

• REM: is a test of what is called sperm capacitation. By different sperm washing techniques recover higher quality in terms of mobility.
• Survival at 24 hours: the mobility of sperm is analyzed one day after collection.
• Tunnel: this technique allows to determine whether there is DNA fragmentation in the sperm selected because if so can adversely affect embryo implantation.
• FISH: It is used to analyze the chromosome of the sperm, especially chromosomes whose alterations may determine that abortions or fetal malformations (13, 18, ​​21, X and Y) are produced.
    

How to get for a semen sample

When collecting the semen sample for performing a semen analysis is very important to follow several guidelines:

   

• Total sexual abstinence during the three days prior to collection.
• A sterile container, such as those used for urine collection should be used.
• The sample is obtained by masturbation and be collected complete.
• It must be submitted before that 30 minutes have elapsed from the moment of ejaculation and, meanwhile, the sample should be kept at a temperature not less than 20 and not more than 30 ° loa.
• If you have a fever in the days before or medicine is taken must be reported to the doctor before the test, since both factors can alter the results of semen analysis.
     

If the results of semen establish the existence of a fertility problem, the test is usually repeated two or three weeks to confirm the diagnosis.

Semen quality

In about half of the couples who go to a fertility clinic because they do not get pregnant, the problem is male infertility and in most cases as a result of poor semen quality. This is determined from multiple parameters:

   

• Semen volume: it is normal to occur between 2 and 5 milliliters per ejaculation.Given that the number of ejaculations volume is reduced and it increases with the time of prior sexual abstinence, systematic values ​​below and above the above are indicative of problems that can affect fertility.
• Its viscosity.
• The way it thickens and then turns liquid.
• The acidity (pH) and liquid fructose. Citric acid and fructose indicate secretory capacity of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Normal levels of both substances are above 52 and 13 micromolar, respectively.
• Sperm concentration.
• Sperm motility.
• Sperm shape.
• DNA fragmentation of sperm.
     

Keep in mind that the semen is ejected in each ejaculation consists of secretions of various glands and only 5% from the testes, which produce sperm from germ cells and a liquid rich in testosterone which allows first pass through the epididymis before moving to semen. The rest is produced in the seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbourethral and urethral glands. Once together, the different components make semen has a sticky appearance, sticky texture and white or greyish (sometimes can appear slightly yellow) components of semen.    

The point is that semen quality can be affected by many factors, such as certain diseases (such as varicocele), drug use, snuff and alcohol, the use of certain drugs, environmental factors such as exposure to toxic substances or ionizing radiation, sexually transmitted infections, fever, in environments with high temperatures, etc.

Normal semen quality

can reach surprising the number of dead and abnormal sperm in each semen sample.But in any case, the semen quality is normal when the following criteria are met:

   

• The total volume of semen must be between 1.5 and 5 milliliters.
• Sperm concentration must be at least 20 million per milliliter of semen (reach 150 million).
• At least 75% of the sperm should be alive.
• 30% of them must be well trained.
• 25% have to move forward with a flick and 50% should go forward albeit slowly.
    

You can treat loss of sexual desire

The absence of sexual desire is more common in women than in men, primarily because of the hormonal changes that occur depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle in which you are, or after menopause. However, in many cases the loss of libido is a psychological or communication between the couple origin without necessarily having an association to specific pathological situations. Stress is another factor that may adversely affect the sexual appetite, as well as some medications prescribed for the treatment of a particular ailment.

That is why the treatment of sexual dysfunction involves not only the need for a correct diagnosis, but also to identify its origin. Thus, if it is a drug, its replacement by another meeting the therapeutic objectives can solve the problem. If the loss of libido is associated with some kind of disease, the treatment of it you may be able to reverse the sexual inhibition.

However, most often they attend various factors inhibiting sexual desire, so it is always important to the intervention of a psychologist and / or a sexologist to identify possible problems of coexistence and communication between partners, inadequate sex education in one of them, the possibility that, for example women, has suffered sexual trauma in childhood or even, why not say that there is an incompatibility between sexual partners.

In all these cases the couples therapy is an essential part of the treatment of inhibited sexual desire and aim must also be to improve communication and resolve points of conflict that arise in daily life and sex, take them to explore the different phases of sexual activity: desire, arousal, orgasm and resolution. In this way you can get to open a way to rearrange the living and find ways to stimulate the desire of the couple.

         

Testosterone and sexual desire

Although testosterone is a hormone traditionally associated with men, the truth is that is also present in the body of the woman and, in both cases is related to the maintenance of desire and sexual response. This is something that can be seen in women who reach the menopause and generally suffer a drop in libido also associated with other symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, make sex painful and result aggravate the loss of desire.

It has now raised the possibility of treating loss of sexual desire through testosterone patches. However, this possibility has been widely put into question by gynecologists, essentially for two reasons. The first is that the improvement in the clinical trials were performed She happens to have three sex at five- month does not justify the use of this treatment.

And even less if we take into account the possible side effects, which include elevated cholesterol and masculinization of appearance:

  

• Muscle development.
• Acne.
• Facial hair.
• Voice changes.
• Sometimes even clitoral growth.
    

What is dyspareunia?

Dyspareunia, also called coitalgia, demonicación is given to the pain that occurs during intercourse, which occurs more often in women than in men. Besides pain you can also extend the feeling symptoms of itching, burning, or itching.

In males it may occur at the time of ejaculation and affect the external genital apparatus (glans penis, prepuce or scrotum) or internal, also involving the urinary system (testes, prostate, bladder or urethra). For women the discomfort can affect the inside of the vagina or the pelvic area or abdomen.

Causes of  dyspareunia

The causes of dyspareunia are many and there are clear differences according to sex:

• Men:  the main cause is an infection that can affect the urethra, prostate, bladder, or seminal vesicles, but may also be due to phimosis, an abnormal curvature of the penis or have come in contact with spermicidal creams.
    
• Women:  very often associated with vaginismus, but can also occur during the postpartum period if they have an episiotomy. Also pelvic diseases such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or anovulation hyperprolactinemia, among many others. Other causes are urogenital infections or the use of soap for washing or vaginal contact with spermicidal agents.
     

However, we must not forget the psychological causes: lack of arousal during penetration, especially when it occurs without preparation (preliminaries), have received a sexual rudeness, have anxiety or emotional problems or have had traumatic experiences.

Tips  of dyspareunia

The main recommendation suffer if dyspareunia is to consult a doctor if the cause is physical or a psychologist or sexologist if due to emotional or psychological problems.They will assess the situation and decide what is the most appropriate treatment based on the origin of the problem.

It is also important to address how sex:   

• Taking the time to foreplay that achieve the state of arousal and achieve adequate lubrication to facilitate penetration.
• Some sexual positions are more favorable when it comes to control penetration, as the woman is placed over it man or coitus from behind or laterally.
• Avoiding deep penetration.
• Use lubricants, especially if a woman has vaginal dryness.
• Let a woman learn to contract and expand at will the vaginal muscles and pelvic floor.

Lack of sexual desire in women

According to the latest National Survey of Sexual Health (2009), 9.6% of women experience a loss of sexual desire and only a third of them see a specialist, be it a gynecologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, sexologist, etc. However, some experts say that between 21% and 50% could present a loss of libido at some point in their lives.However, it is important to note that you should not talk about lack of sexual desire as long as this situation can not be prolonged for at least six months.

However, the absence of sexual desire may have different causes, some physical and other personal information. In the case of women consulting a doctor about this problem, the first thing is that the cause is not hormonal, for example, by low estrogen, such as during menopause.

It is also common during pregnancy or breast-feeding women libido is diminished.However, in most cases the origin of this sexual dysfunction is usually psychological or derived from their own relationship. Sometimes even both, the physical and psychological are given.

Work and household duties

The incorporation of women into the workplace and in particular the performance of functions of high responsibility has increased in recent decades the prevalence of lack of sexual desire. Job stress, having to combine it with housework (women engaged in these four times longer than man) and childcare, not finding time to strengthen communication and the relationship with the partner, They lead in the best case, to comply with the implied obligation of marriage but with sex-based routine, and at worst to delay the time to go to sleep for not doing while her partner, looking all kinds of excuses. But in any case the distance is growing.

Marital conflict

Experts say that in most cases the lack of sexual desire in women lies in the conflict with the couple. There are people who marry them or another awakening sexual desire or passion. Others have had a poor sex education, which implies the existence of taboos and the imposition of limits on sex or inability to excite the couple. In other cases a power struggle by the home government is established ...

There are many situations that can lead to alienation or confrontation and dissatisfaction in any case. And if to this is added the lack of communication and lack of complicity, the problem grows.

Lack of sexual desire in men

The lack of sexual desire is more common in women than in men, mainly because of the hormonal changes of its own, but can only talk about this kind of sexual dysfunction is loss of libido lasts more than six months. However, this also occurs in men, in which 70% of cases of loss of libido stems from a lack of testosterone.

In the remaining 30% must seek the cause other problems, usually related to their relationship and stress:

   

• Stress . Although the practice of sex releases endorphins and this helps to relieve stress, the truth is that it is not uncommon for many men come home tired from work and even the possibility of having sexual relations arise: just want to relax and unwind. Workaholics, however, in addition to coming home late, often continue to work to end the day affairs that remained. In any case, the truth is that work-related stress makes it significantly decrease the frequency of sex and desire perish.
     
• Relations routine . The routine in sexual relationships is another reason that leads man to lose sexual desire. No surprises, no new things are tried, no innovation is encouraged as a means of excitement and taboos and limitations remain. In the end, the routine brings with it frustration and loss of sexual desire, at least in terms of the couple concerned.
    
• Relationship problems . Is essentially a problem of miscommunication, which ends up causing a rift, discussions and conflicts and thereby leave out the sex, without reconciliation, usually a means of inciting the sexual desire, is an option .
    

Testosterone deficiency

As already mentioned, the decline in testosterone levels in the body is the most important cause of loss of sexual desire in men, it is responsible for regulating sexual function and thus generate the desire and arousal. Although it is a natural fact that from age 30 levels of testosterone in the body are progressively reduced, it is no less true that there are different pathological causes that may increase abnormally deficit of this hormone, hypogonadism, obesity, diabetes, cancer , depression, zinc deficiency, hypertension, smoking, alcohol abuse, or even taking some drugs. TO

Octoberfest 20% of men over 70 have this problem, but at least 5% of those below this age. The consequences affect not only the loss of sexual desire, but can also cause problems with erectile dysfunction. In most cases, the treatment of these diseases or the abandonment of snuff and alcohol, is enough to restore sexual desire.

How to have good health

Being healthy means taking care of not only physical, but it is also equally important to their well being and mental health. If you have a proper psychological health, it may develop their potential can positively cope with stressful situations that arise in your life, like the loss of a loved one. In turn, spend and share his time with his family, friends and the surrounding community.

Value and accept yourself is key to maintaining their psychological health aspect, allowing you to enjoy life completely. However, if this becomes a struggle, the ability to feel, express and manage their positive and negative emotions, especially the rage affected. For example, if you have a permanent physical illness, has retired or been laid off, you may feel low morale and stressed. These feelings usually go, but sometimes develop more serious problems, such as depression or anxiety. Therefore having good mental health will protect you from developing these disorders. Try following these 10 tips to become a physical, emotional and mental well-being:

1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. 

2. Drink sensibly. 

3. Stay active. 

4. Rest. 

5. Sleep well. 

6. Externalize their feelings. 

7. Ask for help when needed. 

8. Accept yourself as it is. 

9. Stay in touch with friends and loved ones. 

10. Smile and laugh.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

It's no secret that a healthy and balanced diet helps you maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease or stroke. The food at the end of the day, it is the fuel of our body. You can not put diesel in a petrol engine, so, in this connection, should not be fed improperly-that will only make you feel bad. DRINK SENSIBLY

Alcohol is a depressant and euphoric affects brain function. Not drinking sensibly, or drink large amounts over a long period of time, have the risk of developing mental problems such as anxiety or depression. Also, you do not take drugs like ecstasy canabbis or as they increase the potential risk of damaging the brain. Stay active

Take part in regular physical activity helps your brain to release the so-called hormoneof happiness (endorphins) that help improve the feeling Bienstar. What more do you entertain, as a team sport, dancing, cycling or walking. Exercise such as tai chi will also help you feel better. Try to be active at all times: people who are unemployed or suffer an illness have the lowest self-esteem and depression are more. REST

The negative changes that occur in life, like the loss of a loved one, divorce, being unemployed or retired may be key to feel bad psychologically. Sometimes you can feel that the world will come over and is unable to reach a goal. The key is to relax even meditating in order to manage emotions and reduce stress levels. SLEEP WELL

Feeling tired affects concentration, discourages you and leaves you without power.This may affect, in turn, to mental health, so it's important to get enough sleep to feel rested and feel qualified to perform everyday activities. Externalise FEELINGS

Talking to others about how you feel will help you see things from another perspective.Try talking to the people closest to you so you can share your problems. ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED

If you feel you can not cope by itself, you should not feel guilty or embarrassed about asking others for help. Losing a loved one or some changes that can occur in life are hard to beat, so it's important to remember that can help and the advantages that it make a difference when carrying a given situation. Accept yourself AS AND HOW IS IT

There are certain things you can change in your life. See yourself as a person with value, not overzealous judge, it will help you feel good and and maintain an acceptable level of happiness throughout life. IT IS IN CONTACT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES