The gym lifestyle and the supplements that often come with it can have a big impact on fertility in men, especially when they are younger. Unfortunately, most young men don’t know this, so they don’t know that they could be putting their future fertility at risk. Protein supplementation and high-intensity workout routines can decrease male and female fertility, but both are common choices for young men looking to lose body fat and gain muscle.
Part of the problem is a lack of education about this issue, because men don’t talk about fertility the way women do. They usually don’t discuss the issue with their friends or their doctors, and that can mean they don’t have the data they need to make an informed choice. There is also the misconception that women’s fertility is the only thing that matters, or that men generally don’t experience fertility issues. That can lead young men to ignore potential risks to their own reproductive health.
However, when they take supplements and lift heavy, they can delay bodily operations that affect the quantity and quality of their sperm. Because of that they may not be able to have children in the future. Even if it’s not a priority for them at the time, it can become more meaningful as they get a little older. However, by that point, it may be too late to undo much of the damage that has already been done. That creates a lot of frustration and regret, which increases stress.
Too much stress can also lower fertility in both men and women, so higher stress levels can contribute to the problem caused by supplements. The goal, of course, is to minimize the impact of any or all of this on the fertility of young men, and that means providing education and information about how supplements affect male fertility.
The more informed young men are about the issue, the better they can make informed decisions and make wise choices. This is not to say that supplementation or heavy lifting are always poor choices, but young men should be aware of any long-term effects they may experience, including effects on fertility.
Our thorough contracts also establish the parties’ intent regarding parental rights, define the parties’ financial responsibilities, and ensure that all parties are aware of the importance of informed consent, giving our clients of added peace of mind as they travel their surrogacy journeys. If you are planning to start or grow your family through assisted reproductive technology, please contact us now!
