Ask the Doc: Does stress affect male fertility?

Yes, stress can affect male fertility. Stress has negative effects on fertility in males and females.

There are studies on medical students showing that sperm counts go down during exams, and studies on prisoners on death row showing that sperm production stops completely because of these stressful situations.

When we’re stressed, our body reacts with its fight-or-flight response to help us deal with the stressful situation. Some of the hormones involved in the fight-or-flight response inhibit the production of testosterone by the testes, which reduces sperm production.

Sperm counts aren’t perfect measures of fertility. What’s important is whether a male partner’s stress affects a couple’s chance of becoming pregnant and having children, and the evidence is not clear about this. For example, one study shows no effect of stress on pregnancy rates, but another shows that a common source of stress in males – unemployment – reduces pregnancy rates. There just hasn’t been enough research in humans to prove (or disprove) a link between male stress and low fertility.

We know that a father’s health and wellbeing affect his fertility, the pregnancies of his partner, and the health of his children before and after they are born. Regardless of whether you’re trying to have kids, if you’re stressed, ask someone for help.

If you or someone you know is struggling with stress, there are people you can talk to:

• Beyond Blue
• Head to Health
• Australian Psychological Society
• Movember