The incidence of infertility in China is around 10%, and there is an increasing trend, with male factor accounting for about 50%. Human sperm count may be declining at an average rate of about 2% per year, and human sperm density has dropped by half in the last 50 years. Human fertility is declining year by year, and this is a very serious problem. We can reduce the occurrence of such situations if we pay attention to prevention in our daily life.
I. Reproductive system problems during childhood and adolescence
1.Cryptorchidism is a more common disease in pediatrics, mostly occurs in premature babies. 12 months after birth, if the testicles still have not descended, there is little chance for them to descend on their own, so we should not wait blindly anymore, the treatment methods are mainly drug therapy and surgery, and the surgery is best to be performed before 2 years old.
2, mumps is a more common disease in children, easily complicating mumps orchitis, poor handling can lead to the serious consequences of azoospermia.
3.Urethral hypospadias can affect normal urination and future sex life in serious cases, and it is usually corrected by surgery, which can be done above the age of 1.
4, prepuce is a more common disease in children, prepuce is very harmful to men, can bring the following hazards: 1, tight prepuce can delay the development of the penis; 2, due to the accumulation of foreskin scale caused by inflammation of the foreskin and penis head, often can cause the urethral opening narrow, serious cases can also cause urinary tract infection and kidney function damage; 3, local stimulation can induce bad habits of masturbation; 4, can be due to difficulties in urination and often increase abdominal pressure The complications such as hernia and prolapse may occur; 5. The accumulation of foreskin scale in the prepuce and chronic stimulation may induce the occurrence of penile or prepuce leukoplakia, papilloma and penile cancer. Treatment methods include surgery and non-surgery: circumcision can solve the problem of pediatric prepuce, surgery is best performed after the age of 3, but children generally need general anesthesia for surgery, and the surgery is risky and traumatic, requiring hospitalization; it is recommended to choose non-surgical treatment first, our male department has been carrying out non-surgical treatment of pediatric prepuce for many years, with satisfactory results. It is characterized by safety, the use of surface anesthesia, no incision, no bleeding, outpatient treatment can be the usual activities, low cost, parents and children are happy to accept.
5, varicocele is less common in adolescents, but more common in adults. According to statistics, the incidence of varicocele in male infertility is as high as 40%, which is an important reason affecting male fertility. Surgery is the main treatment for varicocele, and surgical treatment in adult patients can improve semen quality in 2/3 of patients. The reduction of testicular volume is an important indication for the treatment of varicocele in adolescence, and surgery is generally indicated when the difference in testicular volume between the two sides is more than 2 ml.
Genitourinary system infection
Genitourinary system infection is a more common disease, in recent years there is a rising trend, mainly due to the usual personal hygiene, unclean sexual life and other reasons, so we should be clean, avoid unclean sexual behavior, cut off the path of infection. The foreskin of the penis should be frequently turned up and cleaned, and the prepuce is best treated surgically, while the prepuce should be operated as early as possible.
Third, the daily dietary habits, nutritional status, etc.
1.Popularize healthy knowledge about sex and reproduction – give children correct sex education in time, let them treat masturbation, seminal emission and other phenomena correctly.
2. Avoid malnutrition and overnutrition during adolescence – Both malnutrition and overnutrition will affect the normal development of children. Obesity can cause low serum testosterone levels and can affect the development and appearance of the penis.
3, quit bad habits
1, prohibit the consumption of food that affects fertility – cotton phenol in cotton oil damage testicular spermatogenic function; food additives, coloring agents, preservatives, etc. affect the testicular spermatogenic function; agricultural and sideline products residue a large number of pesticides, seriously endanger human health, damage the testicular spermatogenic function; hormone regulation pollutants and contains estrogen analogues affect sex and reproductive functions, such as pesticides, herbicides, plastic packaging, etc..
2, avoid exposure to substances that impair reproductive function – car exhaust, paint, cigarette smoke, paint, gas, etc. and heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.
3, quit smoking and drinking – there are more than 1200 kinds of harmful substances in tobacco, of which nicotine is the most harmful, alcohol is also very damaging to the spermatogenic function of the testicles, is the killer of male fertility.
4, to prevent testicular trauma – testicular trauma can lead to serious immune damage.
5, ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation – testicular tissue is very sensitive to ionizing radiation, such as: X-ray irradiation, marble, granite and other materials; electromagnetic waves, microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, ultrasound, laser, etc.; tight underwear, hot bath, sauna, high-temperature work, etc.
6, appropriate supplementation of certain trace elements – zinc is an important element within the reproductive system, foods high in zinc are oysters, milk, corn, nuts food. Selenium enhances the body’s antioxidant effect, foods high in selenium include black rice, black beans and other black foods.
Fourth, the drugs that affect male fertility
Tumor chemotherapy drugs, hormonal drugs, antibiotics and some Chinese medicine can damage the testicles, the degree of impact with the type of drugs, dose, course of treatment, the patient’s age. Couples who are planning to get pregnant in the near future should not use drugs that affect fertility, and if they must use them, they must stop using them for more than 3 months before getting pregnant. Drugs are very harmful to a person’s physical and mental health, and they are also very harmful to fertility, so it is important to stay away from them.