Unhealthy living has no impact on men’s fertility

DRINKING, smoking, being overweight and taking drugs have little impact on the sperm quality of infertile men, according to research by Yorkshire academics.

The study shows that men with unhealthy lifestyles produced as much swimming sperm as those living more sensibly.

The surprise findings by a team of scientists from the universities of Manchester and Sheffield contradict advice given to men who struggle to conceive.

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GPs are supposed to warn men diagnosed with infertility of the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs. Infertile men are also urged to avoid being overweight and not to wear tight underwear.

But the new research suggests none of these factors has much impact on a man’s sperm. Scientists recruited 2,249 men from 14 fertility clinics around the UK and asked them to fill out detailed lifestyle questionnaires.