Not all cases of male infertility can be prevented, but you may
be able to reduce your risk by changing some of your behaviors.
- Avoid using tobacco, marijuana, anabolic steroids, and
“recreational” drugs. - Avoid excessive use of alcohol. - Avoid
exposure to harmful chemicals and heavy metals. - Protect
yourself from sexually transmitted diseases. - Avoid prolonged
use of drugs with adverse effect on fertility. - Maintain a
healthy weight. - Exercise moderately, but not excessively. -
Avoid testicular injury in sporting events. - Wear looser
fitting shorts and pants. - If you bicycle, try using a softer
saddle. Cigarette smoking reduces sperm count and motility and
increases the number of abnormal sperm. Smoking also adversely
affects hormone levels and may affect the cells in the testes
that produce testosterone. Like cigarette smoking, use of
marijuana also can adversely affect sperm count, sperm motility,
and sperm morphology. It can also reduce plasma testosterone
levels. Anabolic steroids influence pro