Diet, Substance Abuse and Male Fertility

2014-12-05

Recently, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine held their annual meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. The topic of male fertility, in terms of diet and substance use, came up. Recent studies have found conflicts which leave specialists scratching their heads. But endocrinology and andrology experts say observational studies alone are not significant. Though in vitro fertilization (IVF) is better overall for those men who consume more fruits and vegetables, one study showed that eating produce with a high amount of insecticide residue affected sperm quality. But another study showed that vegetarians tended to have poorer sperm concentrations than omnivores. Another paper found that tobacco smokers have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. But those who drank alcohol were less likely to experience it. Urologists often tell men to stay away from alcohol when trying to conceive. Yet, the final study showed that those men who had a high caffeine intake had more trouble conceiving, while male alcohol consumption seemed to increase chances.

The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Craig S. Niederberger, MD said, “While the results of some studies presented at the meeting seem to be contradictory, it is important to remember that observational studies often can’t tell the whole truth.” He went on, “A more rigorous scientific approach would include randomly assigning people to diets—what scientists call prospective randomization—and seeing what happens.” He added, “So we’re left with a basic rule of thumb: if it’s healthy for other parts of the body, it’s probably good for reproduction, too.” President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Rebecca Z. Sokol, MD, MPH said, “The human organism is complex and substances we inhale and imbibe have systemic effects beyond the stimulation the user is seeking.” She went on, “These studies provide new information that can help men make healthy choices for themselves, their partners, and their future children.”

Penile Bruising and the Issues it can Cause

Everyone bumps into something once in a while and gets a bruise. It’s inevitable. Lots of guys don’t even notice when it happens. But if your penis is seriously bruised, it could be a sign of deeper trouble. Most are nothing to worry about. But it is important to be aware of what might cause the issue, and when to go to a doctor or specialist to get checked out. Here are some issues to be aware of should you notice bruising in your nether regions. Each year emergency rooms all over the country deal with blunt force trauma to the groin. This could be a sports-related injury, work-related, a fight, motorcycle-related, or just some sort of accident. When capillaries under the skin are crushed or broken, the blood flows underneath, causing a bruise. However, if the injury is followed by severe pain from the penis or groin, see a doctor or go to the ER right away.  The penis itself has no bones. It gets hard when the spongy material within fills with blood. Still, the penis can be broken or torn. This is usually done when a man engages in risky or dangerous sexual maneuvers with his partner. Severe pain following a strange popping sound should alert a man to get to the hospital right away.

Another type has to do with lymph fluid. Lymph fluid is carried throughout the body by the lymphatic system. The penis contains these vessels. After a bout of rigorous sex, the vessels can become blocked. They may look like lumps on the surface of the penis, and can form patterns that appear bruise-like in color and manner. This is nothing to worry about and usually disappears by itself within a few days. For some, it can last as long as a few weeks. Without pain or any other symptoms, monitor it, but don’t worry too much. Bruising from a constant erection is another matter. If you have a painful erection that won’t go away for hours, this condition is what is called priapism. Priapism occurs when scarring within the penis traps blood inside. It can be very painful and demands immediate medical attention. This is an emergency. With priapism, bruising or a darkening of the skin may occur. Anything that seems serious should be checked out by a physician. For a small bump or light bruising, you can use warm or cool compresses if it bothers you, take over-the-counter medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen, and simply allow it time to heal.