Kan mandlige fertilitetsproblemer gå i arv? 

Kan mandlige fertilitetsproblemer være arvelige
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As parents, you might hope that you pass on some of your more favoured genetics to your children – may be your aptitude for running or your thick head of hair. But what if you are concerned about passing on things you’d rather not, like issues with fertility?

In this blog, we’ll take a look at the latest research into this topic and explain how certain factors of infertility could be passed on to your children – directly or indirectly. 

Can male fertility issues be inherited? What the science says.

Whilst studies into the hereditary nature of infertility are still ongoing, it’s worth examining the current research to understand the known risks of passing fertility issues on to our kids – more specifically our sons. 

I en recent Danish study, the results indicated that there was no obvious link between the subfertility of parents and the sperm health of their sons. The study recruited 1058 young men whose mothers were on a public database that held information about the conception and pregnancy of their children – including whether they received any fertility treatment. The men joining the study were split into categories connected to their conception; this ranged from unplanned pregnancy and naturally conceived under 6 months of trying, to conception following IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

The men provided blood and semen samples for analysis – and factors including sperm volume, concentration, motility and morphology were investigated. The study found ‘no major differences in the sperm health and quality of the men that had been conceived through assisted fertility treatment’ – and any correlation they did find was pretty insignificant. 

This latest piece of research does seem to contradict earlier studies that indicated infertility could be passed down. One undersøgelse found that boys who had been conceived through ICSI were more likely to have poor sperm quality – lower sperm count and motility – compared to those who had been conceived naturally. However, this study only analysed 113 men – so we will need more studies before we can conclude on this relationship.

Passing on genetic conditions

Whilst the research seems to indicate that male factor infertility isn’t hereditary, there are genetic conditions that are linked to infertility, some of which can be passed down from parents to children. 

Cystisk fibrose og mandlig fertilitet 

Cystic Fibrosis is a condition that can be passed on from parents to children – and one that has links to infertility 

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition and is caused by a faulty gene that affects the movement of salt and water in the body. This causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system, which is why problems with breathing and eating are some of the most common symptoms in people with CF. But what’s that got to do with male fertility? 

Well, another symptom of CF in men is not having a vas deferens – the tube that essentially allows sperm cells to become part of semen. Whilst the vast majority of men with Cystic Fibrosis can produce healthy sperm, they won’t be able to conceive naturally as there will be no sperm cells in their semen. However, through an operation called testicular sperm extraction (TESE) it’s possible to extract healthy sperm cells and use them in IVF – so having Cystic Fibrosis does not necessarily stop you from having biological children! 

Cystic Fibrosis can be passed on through parents that have CF themselves, or if both parents are carriers of the faulty gene. It’s estimated that around 1 in 25 people in the UK are carriers of the CF gene. 

If you have Cystic Fibrosis it’s understandable that you may be concerned about passing both the condition and the chance of infertility down to your children. However, if you decide to go down the route of IVF, it’s possible to genetically test viable embryos before implantation to check if they have CF. 

Kartagener Syndrome and Male Fertility 

Kartagener syndrome is a rare genetic condition which impacts the cilia – tiny hair-like structures within our cells. The condition causes abnormalities in your respiratory tract known as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) – which triggers symptoms like chronic breathing problems –  and can also cause issues with fertility.  

Much like the respiratory tract, the epidermis (a collection of tubes where your sperm is stored) is also lined with cilia-like structures to help cells move. As PCD impacts these structures, it can make the epidermis a tough environment for sperm cells to thrive. Another factor that impacts male fertility is that sperm tails have a very similar make-up to cilia. In men with Kartagener Syndrome, it’s very common to see sperm cells that struggle to swim – and have very low motility. Around 75% of men with Kartagener’s syndrome struggle with fertility issues. 

Like Cystic Fibrosis, Kartagener Syndrome can be passed on from parents to children, and you and your partner would both have to carry the gene mutation for your child to end up with the condition. 

Klinefelter Syndrome and Male Fertility 

Klinefelter’s Syndrome is a genetic condition, in which a boy is born with an extra X chromosome. As men are usually born with XY chromosomes, this random genetic mix-up can have a massive impact on a man’s testosterone levels and sperm production – and cause infertility.  

However, unlike Cystic Fibrosis, there is no evidence to suggest that Klinefelter Syndrome is passed on through families, despite the fact it’s a genetic condition. Whilst it is quite rare for men with Klinefelter Syndrome to be able to conceive naturally, if you have Klinefelter syndrome and conceive using your own sperm, it’s not more likely that your son will have the same condition. 

Read our article on Klinefelter Syndrome for at få mere at vide.

Passing on lifestyle factors 

Of course, aside from genetic factors, there are a lot of lifestyle factors that can trigger male subfertility. 

Whilst there is still more we have to learn about the hereditary nature of male infertility, there is plenty of research into how our habits and lifestyle impact those of our children. 

For example, children whose parents smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves. Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your fertility, so whilst you might not be directly passing on fertility issues to your kids, passing on a habit of smoking cigarettes could indirectly have an impact on their future sperm health. 

Likewise, children whose parents are overweight or obese are more likely to also have an unhealthy weight as adults. BMI is another really important factor when it comes to male fertility and maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise has been linked to improved sperm health. 

If you are planning on becoming a father, addressing these lifestyle issues will not only mean you are less likely to pass these habits on to your kids – but it will also help to improve your own fertility and health. 

Read more about healthy lifestyle habits to improve your sperm health her. 

In conclusion, unless you have a specific genetic (and hereditary) condition that is impacting your fertility, the chances of passing on subfertility are low. However, understanding the root of your fertility issues will help you ensure that you are doing everything you can to improve your sperm health and protect the fertility of your future children. 

Testing your sperm is a great first step in getting to know your body better. Click the link to learn more about our sædprøve i hjemmet.

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Brug af stramme bukser og undertøj

Undersøgelser viser, at mænd, der bærer løsere undertøj, har en højere sædkoncentration og et højere samlet antal sædceller sammenlignet med mænd, der bærer strammere undertøj. Så smid det stramme tøj og tag noget løst tøj på for at give dine testikler lidt luft.

KONKLUSION: Få mere at vide om, hvordan varme kan påvirke sædkvaliteten her.

Stress

Ud over en højere dødelighed og forskellige sygdomme er stress forbundet med lav sædkvalitet. Stress er kendt for at være forbundet med lavere testosteronniveauer og oxidativ stress, der begge spiller en vigtig rolle i produktionen og opretholdelsen af sunde sædceller.

KONKLUSION: Hvis du føler dig stresset, anbefaler vi, at du får hjælp, så du kan få et afbalanceret mentalt helbred. Du kan downloade en vejledning i stresshåndtering i ExSeed-appen gratis, og start din personlige handlingsplan i dag.

Fysisk aktivitet

Videnskabelige undersøgelser viser, at mænd, der er fysisk aktive, har bedre sædparametre end mænd, der er inaktive. Fertilitetsspecialister siger også, at regelmæssig fysisk aktivitet har en gavnlig indvirkning på sædets fertilitetsparametre, og at en sådan livsstil kan forbedre mænds fertilitetsstatus.

Hvis du prioriterer motion, kan du forbedre dit generelle helbred og få sunde, hurtigt svømmende sædceller, der har gode chancer for at befrugte et æg.

KONKLUSION: Prøv at indarbejde motion i din ugentlige planlægning, så du sikrer, at du træner mindst to gange om ugen. Vi anbefaler en kombination af konditionstræning og styrketræning. Læs mere om motion og mandlig fertilitet på vores blog.

Ernæring

Fastfood
Forarbejdede fødevarer skader sædproducerende cellers sundhed og forårsager oxidativ stress, hvilket fører til dårligere sædkvalitet. Et stort forbrug af junkfood (hver uge) kan øge sandsynligheden for infertilitet, da mænd, der indtager store mængder usund mad, er i risiko for at få dårlig sædkvalitet. Ud over at skade din frugtbarhed øger junkfood din talje, skader dit hjerte-kar-system, dine nyrer og meget mere.

Grøntsager
Hvis du spiser mere frugt og grøntsager, kan du øge din sædkoncentration og motilitet. Det er vigtigt, at du spiser en sund kost fyldt med antioxidanter, og at du spiser grøntsager hver dag. Fødevarer som abrikoser og røde peberfrugter har et højt indhold af A-vitamin, som forbedrer mænds fertilitet ved at nære sundere sædceller. Mænd, der har mangel på dette vitamin, har tendens til at have langsomme og sløve sædceller.

Sukkerholdige snacks/drikkevarer: flere gange om ugen Overdreven indtagelse af sukkerholdige produkter kan føre til oxidativt stress, hvilket har en negativ indvirkning på testosteronniveauet og sædmotiliteten. Sukkerholdige snacks og drikkevarer er også i høj grad forbundet med fedme og lav frugtbarhed.
KONKLUSION: For at øge sædkvaliteten skal du holde dig fra fastfood, forarbejdede fødevarer og sukkerholdige snacks eller drikkevarer. Du skal implementere en sund og fornuftig kost fyldt med de nødvendige superfoods, der er nødvendige for en god sædproduktion. Tjek vores guide til Superfoods til mandlig fertilitet. Til personlig vejledning og støtte til, hvordan du kan begynde at forbedre din sædkvalitet, kan du tjekke den Bootcamp.

Varme

Direkte varme kan hæmme optimal sædproduktion og forårsage DNA-skader på sædceller. Sædceller kan lide omgivelser, der er et par grader lavere end kropstemperaturen. Undgå overophedning fra varme tæpper, sædevarmere, varme fra din bærbare computer, varme brusere og saunaer.

Cigaretrøgning

Eksponering for tobaksrøg har betydelige negative virkninger på sædkvaliteten. Skaden af cigaretter og nikotin afhænger naturligvis af, hvor mange cigaretter du ryger om dagen og hvor længe, men selv et lavt forbrug (op til 10 cigaretter/dag) kan hæmme en sund sædproduktion.  

KONKLUSION: Hold dig så langt væk fra cigaretrygning som muligt, hvis du er interesseret i dit generelle helbred og din fertilitet. Læs mere her.

Mobiltelefon

Når du har din mobiltelefon i din forlomme, udsættes dine testikler for elektromagnetisk stråling, som undersøgelser har vist, at den skader sædcellerne. Læg din telefon i baglommen på dine bukser eller i din jakkelomme.

BMI

Der er en klar sammenhæng mellem fedme og nedsat sædkvalitet. Dette skyldes i det mindste til dels, at overvægtige mænd kan have unormale reproduktive hormonprofiler, hvilket kan forringe sædproduktionen og føre til infertilitet. 

Et BMI på over 30 kan føre til flere processer i kroppen (overophedning, stigning i oxidativ stress i testiklerne, DNA-skader på sædcellerne, erektil dysfunktion), som kan have en negativ indvirkning på mandens fertilitet. Dette kan resultere i problemer, når man forsøger at blive gravid.  

KONKLUSION: BMI er en af de risikofaktorer, der påvirker sædkvaliteten og f.eks. sædmotiliteten.  

Alkohol

En øl eller et glas vin i ny og næ skader ikke rigtig sædkvaliteten. Men overdreven alkoholindtagelse (mere end 20 enheder om ugen) kan reducere produktionen af normalt dannede sædceller, som er nødvendige for en vellykket graviditet.

KONKLUSION: Hvis du vil være sikker, skal du holde dig under 14 enheder alkohol om ugen. Du kan få flere oplysninger om, hvordan alkohol kan påvirke mænds fertilitet, ved at se vores blog: "Alkohol og sædkvalitet".

Alder

Undersøgelser viser, at kvinder under 35 år og mænd under 40 år har en større chance for at blive gravide. Mænd kan producere sædceller næsten hele livet igennem, men sædcellens DNA er mere skrøbeligt og udsat for skader efter 40-årsalderen.

Efterhånden som mænd bliver ældre, har deres testikler tendens til at blive mindre og blødere, hvilket resulterer i et fald i sædkvalitet og -produktion. Disse ændringer skyldes til dels et aldersrelateret fald i testosteronniveauet, som spiller en meget vigtig rolle for sædcellerne.

produktion. Højere alder hos mænd (>40 år) er ikke kun forbundet med et fald i sædproduktionen, men også med øget DNA-fragmentering af sædcellerne og forringet morfologi (form) og motilitet (bevægelse). Disse negative virkninger gør sædcellerne mindre kvalificerede til befrugtning af æg.

KONKLUSION: Med en alder under 40 år skal du ikke bekymre dig så meget om alder som en faktor i sig selv. Undersøgelser har dog vist et langsomt fald efter 30-35 års alderen