Factors affecting semen volume include drug and cigarette use, physical activities, and emotional stress. Sperm count can be tested at home or at a doctor’s office. The World Health Organization defines a healthy sperm count as 20-40 million per milliliter of semen. Medications, physical activities, and health/genetic factors can reduce sperm volume. Emotional stress may also have a temporary impact.
Factors affecting semen volume can include drug and cigarette use, certain physical activities, and emotional stress. These factors tend to be temporary, and once removed, sperm counts may typically be increased. Men can purchase at-home self-tests to determine how much sperm is in a semen sample, or they can be tested at a doctor’s office.
The source of semen is the secretion of multiple glands found throughout the male reproductive system. It typically leaves the body through the urethra of the penis during ejaculation. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a healthy or normal sperm count as between 20 and 40 million sperm per milliliter of semen. The average volume of sperm produced should range between 2 and 5 milliliters.
Qualifications are also placed on the type of sperm produced in a normal sample. These factors can affect the likelihood of successful conception in couples dealing with fertility complications. Most of the sperm should be alive, although some are expected to be dead. One third should be in normal shape and swim rapidly. More than half of the sperm should be swimming forward.
The use of medications can have a negative impact on semen volume. Marijuana and cocaine have been shown in several scientific studies to temporarily reduce the amount of sperm in semen by up to 50%. Marijuana use can also impair the function of remaining sperm cells, causing them to swim more slowly and preventing them from penetrating the egg. Smoking traditional cigarettes causes similar results, reducing the number of sperm cells and limiting their motility.
Semen volume can also be affected by certain physical activities. Overheating of the male reproductive regions, as might happen for those involved in outdoor construction, or can occur in a sauna and hot tub, can reduce the amount of sperm present in a sample. Bicycling also has a proven correlation with decreased sperm count and impaired sexual performance. Doctors believe that this may occur due to the pressure of the bicycle seat on certain blood vessels and nerve endings which are vital for the peak sperm count present in the semen.
Various health and genetic factors that can reduce sperm volume include major diseases and deformities in the reproductive organs. Cancer typically requires patient exposure to chemotherapy and radiation, both of which can have devastating long-term effects on sperm count. Counting often resumes, however, several years after any treatment regimen is completed. Malformations in the testicles or vas deferens can also negatively affect the presence of sperm or semen in the body.
Some doctors speculate that emotional health may have an impact on semen volume. Feelings of stress at work or at home can have a temporary effect on an individual’s sperm count. However, these factors tend to be temporary, and sperm counts may increase as the stress subsides.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
