As a male, one of your most important contributions to society is your ability to procreate. Men carry the seed that impregnates women and keeps the population flourishing. The question is, how long will you be able to do this?
Studies show that men aren’t as sexually potent as they were just a couple of generations ago. Of the many reasons men are having trouble procreating, one of them has little to do with them and more to do with their immediate environment. Your plummeting sperm counts are directly correlated to PFAS, commonly referred to as forever chemicals.
If you’re one of the men suffering from lower sperm counts, here’s a guide to help you understand your risk and how to deal with it.
Understanding Forever Chemicals and Lower Sperm Counts
Imagine going to the doctor and hearing that your penis, testes and sperm count are reducing at an alarming rate. This is the case for many men. In fact, health experts hypothesize that this health crisis can wipe out a man’s ability to impregnate a woman within the next 25 years if this problem is not reversed.
Legally, a large number of companies have the right to add toxic chemicals to their products. When they come in contact with your skin or are digested through certain foods that are contaminated with them, they interfere with your endocrine system and throw off your hormonal imbalance. Once your hormones become confused, they have trouble remaining healthy, which lowers your sperm count and shrinks your penis. Some of these chemicals that negatively impact male sperm counts include:
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is mostly found in plastic containers and tin cans that hold everyday food. This chemical can seep into the food and beverages and cause adverse side effects.
Parabens are commonly used as a preservative in beauty products. Since these products are applied topically, they are absorbed through the skin and impact the rest of your body.
Pesticides are chemicals that are sprayed on produce during the growing process to repel bugs. Eating the produce grown in environments sprayed with pesticides causes them to make their way into your body through touching and digesting them.
Phthalates increase the strength and flexibility of plastic used for a variety of products. The products that use this chemical alter their chemical makeup. This is dangerous because they are in products you touch every day, like children’s toys, garbage bags, soap and shower curtains.
What Can You Do About Forever Chemical Exposure?
Whether you’re exposed through what you eat, objects you touch or the water you drink, you’re probably wondering how you can reverse the damage to your reproductive organs and sperm count.
The greatest solution for this issue is for the government to mandate the discontinuation of these chemicals. However, they are cost effective to the companies that produce them, which makes them apprehensive about eliminating them despite their health risk.
Fortunately, some of the forever chemicals have been phased out by the government due to their health risks. However, their effects are still lingering in many environments and products today. While you may not be able to avoid these chemicals altogether, there are lifestyle changes you can make to minimize your risk.
For instance, you can filter your tap water. Some water plants are contaminated with PFAS chemicals that you end up drinking. Using a water filter with activated carbon or reverse osmosis purifies your water enough for you to drink and detoxifies the harmful chemicals that harm your fertility.
You can also avoid foods that have PFAS chemicals as often as possible. Springing for fresh food that aren’t packaged in takeout containers is another way to reduce your exposure. If you use nonstick cookware with any of these preservation chemicals, you should use moderate heat and throw them away once they begin flaking.
Until the government decides to eliminate PFAS chemicals, you are at risk for poor fertility. However, you can educate yourself and make lifestyle changes for higher sperm counts and overall better reproductive health.