Infertile due to sauna visits?
Infertile due to sauna? We hear these questions again and again. Especially couples who want to have children are very worried that the heat will harm the sperm. But is this really true? If it were, men who frequently use heated seats would also have problems. We have investigated this question for you and clarified the situation. The most important information beforehand: You don’t need to worry too much. However, there is a grain of truth in grandma’s wisdom.
Healthy sweating does not make you infertile
Couples who want to have children can breathe a sigh of relief: no, healthy sweating does not make you infertile. But if you’re planning to have children, you shouldn’t visit the sauna too often. The hours spent in the pleasant heat have a tremendously relaxing effect and therefore also have a positive influence on your love life. However, they do have a negative influence on your current inability to conceive. For this reason, you should also avoid sweat lodges with very high temperatures. At 70 degrees, you will sweat sufficiently and benefit from all the positive effects of going to the sauna. Unfortunately, a combination of high heat and frequent visits is completely taboo. But why is that actually the case?
Heat affects sperm quality
Men who go to the sauna do not become permanently infertile. Nevertheless, heat has a negative effect on fertility, at least temporarily. It restricts the production of testosterone for a certain period of time. As a result, the organism also produces fewer sperm. But this is no reason to panic. As a rule, this effect only lasts for five days. After that, everything goes back to normal.
So if you are about to conceive, it is better to refrain from hot pleasure during the fertile days. If it doesn’t work for a longer period of time, a sauna break is in order. It may be that the production of sperm is disturbed by too many visits. But this is also reversible.
Not only sauna visits have an influence
The cozy warmth in the sauna is not the only one that has a negative impact on sperm production. The aforementioned seat heating also has a similar effect, as do baths that are too hot. In this respect, men should also refrain from these two things during a woman’s fertile days.
A fun fact on the side
Scientists suggest that men who regularly go to the sweat room are more likely to father girls. This is related, researchers say, to the nature of the sperm that carries female chromosomes. It is said to be more resistant. In that respect, gentle heat is definitely recommended for couples who want a girl. But please do not overdo it. 70 degrees, as mentioned, is quite enough.
10 points you should do without to improve your fertility
To increase your fertility, you should avoid some behaviors or habits. Here are ten things you should do without to improve your fertility:
- Diet: You should make sure you eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats. Avoid too much alcohol and refined sugar, as these can affect sperm quality.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity can reduce stress and increase fertility. You should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to strenuous physical activity per week.
- Sleep: getting enough sleep is important to help your body recover and regenerate. Try to get at least 7–9 hours of sleep each night.
- Smoking and drug use: smoking and using drugs such as cannabis and cocaine can affect sperm count and quality. Avoid these substances to improve your fertility.
- Body weight: being overweight or underweight can affect fertility. Maintain a healthy body weight by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
- Stress reduction: stress can affect fertility because it can upset hormone balance. Use stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation or regular walks to lower your stress levels.
- Environmental factors: avoid contact with possible environmental toxins such as pesticides and lead, as these can affect fertility.
- Medications: some medications can affect fertility. Talk to your doctor about possible alternatives if you are taking medications that may affect fertility.
- Partner: Your partner’s fertility may also play a role in pregnancy problems. Talk to your doctor about possible tests and treatments your partner may be eligible for.
- Hot tub: Hot tubs should be avoided for the same reason as sauna visits – testicles are sensitive to heat and cool testicles may produce healthier sperm.
Test to prove male fertility
An unfulfilled desire to have children can also have many causes. Is it her, is it him? In clarifying a first cause, the ZuhauseTEST fertility sperm rapid test will help you. This rapid test measures the sperm concentration in the semen. Based on the result, it can be clarified whether an insufficient number of sperm is the reason fertilization does not take place. With the sperm rapid test, you can clarify a possible cause of infertility yourself at home, without a visit to the doctor and long waiting times.