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The importance of sperm. For men, an essential part of
fertility involves the creation of normal, mature sperm.
The process works like this. Sperm is created in a man's testes and
passes through the epididymis which stores and nourishes the sperm.
Once this occurs, the sperm travels through the vas deferens and is
stored in the seminal vesicles.
When a man ejaculates, the sperm mixes with fluid to create semen. If the sperm are healthy and able to travel through a woman's cervix
and uterus and into her fallopian tubes, it may fertilize the egg.
A man will continue to produce sperm, no matter what his age.
However, age can negatively impact male fertility.
Find out more
about how age affects fertility.
The critical role that hormones play.
A man's reproductive system is dependent upon hormones that
stimulate and regulate the production of his sperm. You may be
surprised to learn that many of the same hormones that control a
woman's reproductive cycle also control a man's reproductive system:
- Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates sperm
production.
- Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates the production of
testosterone.
Finding that delicate balance.
Creating sperm is a complicated process. The body must generate
hormones at the right time, in the proper amounts, in order for
healthy sperm production to occur. Any disruption in this process
can make it difficult to conceive. In addition, age and certain
lifestyle choices may also impact sperm production. For example,
smoking and excessive use of alcohol have been shown to have a
negative effect on a man's fertility. |
