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Sedentary lifestyle leads to infertility
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Recently, scientists in economically developed countries have noticed an unpleasant pattern: the quality of sperm in men has noticeably decreased over the past decades. The concentration of spermatozoa and their mobility have also decreased, which increases the prevalence of such a disease as male infertility. Doctors believe that the reproductive health of the male sex is in danger, which most of them do not even suspect.
According to the results of a recent study, the reason lies in the sedentary lifestyle of modern young people. American scientists conducted a study that showed that men who spend too much time in front of the TV or computer have lower quality sperm than more active representatives of the stronger sex. Initially, the goal of the study was to determine the relationship between lifestyle, namely physical activity, and sperm quality. The experiment involved 190 men aged 22 to 28. Specialists took a sperm sample from each participant, and a detailed survey was conducted, including questions about lifestyle, nutrition, and sports. The study also took into account such bad habits as smoking and drinking strong alcohol.
The number of hours per week that young people are used to devoting to sports training of varying intensity ranges from 4 to 15 hours. Representatives of the male sex prefer to spend much more time in front of the screen: up to 20 hours weekly, not counting the time spent in front of the computer during the workday. Young people who lead a more active lifestyle try to stick to a healthy and balanced diet, and do not use tobacco or alcoholic beverages.
Based on the results of the analysis and survey, scientists found that people who spend more than 20 hours a week in front of the TV have 45% less sperm than those who ignore the "blue screen". Moreover, young people who do not neglect physical activity have significantly better sperm quality and concentration than sedentary people, and testosterone levels are almost 1.5 times higher.
At the moment, scientists are trying to find out the reason for the dependence of sperm quality on physical activity and time spent. There is an assumption that the reason is hidden in too much stress on the groin area, which is inevitable with a sedentary lifestyle.
Experts noted that high physical activity has a positive effect on reproductive function, on a person's hormonal level, and accordingly on the quality of sperm, which is responsible for future offspring. Also, sports can help get rid of excess weight, which can cause a decrease in the number of sperm. It is known that obesity is one of the main causes of infertility, so in order to successfully acquire healthy offspring, you should pay attention not only to your lifestyle, but also to your diet, and limit bad habits.
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