Men who do demanding physical work would be more fertile due to high testosterone levels

Infertility, in 40% of cases, is attributed to male factors and is due to low sperm production.

By: Mariana Mestizo Hernandez

April 02, 2023

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A recent study suggests that men who are exposed to heavy lifting are associated with higher sperm concentrations and serum levels of testosteronecompared to men with less physically demanding jobs.

The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was published in Human Reproduction and is part of the Environmental and Reproductive Health (EARTH) cohort clinical research aimed to explore how chemicals Environmental and lifestyle choices affect reproductive health.

“We already know that exercise is associated with multiple health benefits in humans, including those seen in reproductive health, but few studies have looked at how occupational factors may contribute to these benefits,” said first author Lidia Mínguez- Alarcón, an HMS assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s and a co-investigator on the EARTH study.

“What these new findings suggest is that the physical activity during work may also be associated with a significant improvement in the reproductive potential of men,” he added.

male infertility

According to the Mayo Clinic portal, approximately 1 in 7 couples is infertile, in up to half of these couples, male infertility plays at least a partial role.

However, infertility in 40% of cases is attributed to male factors and is due to low sperm production, anomalies in sperm function or obstructions that prevent their exit. Likewise, illness, injury, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices, and other factors can contribute to male infertility.

“In addition, there is increasing evidence that male infertility is associated with common chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and autoimmune diseases, highlighting the broader importance of male reproductive health,” said Professor Mínguez-Alarcón.

Study Results

In the new study, researchers found that men who reported frequent heavy lifting or moving at work had 46% higher sperm concentrations and 44% higher total sperm counts compared with those with less jobs. demanding.

Similarly, men who claimed to perform a physical activity demanding at work also demonstrated higher levels of the male sex hormone testosteroneSimilarly, the female hormone estrogen.

“Contrary to what some remember from biology classes, ‘male’ and ‘female’ hormones are found in both sexes, but in different amounts,” Mínguez-Alarcón clarified.

“In this case, our hypothesis is that the excess of testosterone it’s being converted to estrogen, which is a known way for the body to maintain normal levels of both hormones,” he added.

Certainly, this study succeeded in proving the connection between the physical activity demanding and the fertility in men seeking treatment fertilityhowever, more research is needed to confirm whether these findings apply to all men in general.

“Reproductive health is important in itself, but there is increasing evidence that male infertility can help us better understand other public health problems, such as the most common chronic diseases,” concluded Professor Mínguez-Alarcón.

Sources consulted here y here.