When I first sat down with a doctor to learn about what causes male fertility issues, I asked – is that stuff about laptops real? Her answer, “Yep, that’ll cook your balls.” The phrase stayed with me. With time, I became more and more interested in men’s fertility. It seemed like this was a huge topic that no one seemed to talk about. There are occasional blog posts, news articles, studies and the like, but if male fertility is really a large chunk of fertility issues, why aren't there more dedicated resources for it?
PCOS, endometriosis, and other common women’s health issues all have a websites, seminars, online groups and blogs that can help women navigate these conditions and start to try to take control. Each month, our cycle gives us new information about how our life impacts our fertility and whether things we are doing either on our own or with a doctor are working or messing things up more. Men, however, don’t have this feedback. Things look and feel and work mostly the same, day in and day out, and so we blindly assume that sperm quality is static. We assume mostly that men are good and if they aren’t then, well, that’s the way they are made.
But as I’ve deeply explored male reproductive health, I’ve been surprised to learn that sperm counts can fluctuate wildly from day to day. Stress, heat, diet, exercise, smoking, medications, occupation, frequency of sex, weight and a host of other issues can impact a man’s sperm quality – count, motility, morphology and DNA integrity. Like each woman, each man has a unique physiology which makes him susceptible to some things and not others. The hard part is – they don’t have natural feedback – an outward cycle with cramps, mucus or the like. Because of this, medicine’s knowledge of male fertility is limited to controlled academic studies. There aren't ad-hoc dialogs around “this works and this doesn't”. Patients aren't’t able to provide feedback to physicians about what works. The subject is shrouded in silence. I want to open the can and start a dialog. I started Don’t Cook your Balls as a place to gather research on what does and doesn't impact male fertility. I also helped start a medical diagnostic company with the goal of developing Trak Fertility, a home system to more easily provide men with feedback about how different things impact their fertility.
Join the conversation. So many of you have been through this and have your own stories about what’s worked and what hasn't. What resources were helpful for you? We need to share and break down barriers that prevent an honest dialog about what’s happening with men’s fertility. By doing so, we not only help ourselves and our friends but we also begin to advance a more nuanced medical understanding of what helps and hurts male fertility. So many studies I have read show that it is a growing problem and it’s up to us to take steps to reverse the trend.
PCOS, endometriosis, and other common women’s health issues all have a websites, seminars, online groups and blogs that can help women navigate these conditions and start to try to take control. Each month, our cycle gives us new information about how our life impacts our fertility and whether things we are doing either on our own or with a doctor are working or messing things up more. Men, however, don’t have this feedback. Things look and feel and work mostly the same, day in and day out, and so we blindly assume that sperm quality is static. We assume mostly that men are good and if they aren’t then, well, that’s the way they are made.
But as I’ve deeply explored male reproductive health, I’ve been surprised to learn that sperm counts can fluctuate wildly from day to day. Stress, heat, diet, exercise, smoking, medications, occupation, frequency of sex, weight and a host of other issues can impact a man’s sperm quality – count, motility, morphology and DNA integrity. Like each woman, each man has a unique physiology which makes him susceptible to some things and not others. The hard part is – they don’t have natural feedback – an outward cycle with cramps, mucus or the like. Because of this, medicine’s knowledge of male fertility is limited to controlled academic studies. There aren't ad-hoc dialogs around “this works and this doesn't”. Patients aren't’t able to provide feedback to physicians about what works. The subject is shrouded in silence. I want to open the can and start a dialog. I started Don’t Cook your Balls as a place to gather research on what does and doesn't impact male fertility. I also helped start a medical diagnostic company with the goal of developing Trak Fertility, a home system to more easily provide men with feedback about how different things impact their fertility.
Join the conversation. So many of you have been through this and have your own stories about what’s worked and what hasn't. What resources were helpful for you? We need to share and break down barriers that prevent an honest dialog about what’s happening with men’s fertility. By doing so, we not only help ourselves and our friends but we also begin to advance a more nuanced medical understanding of what helps and hurts male fertility. So many studies I have read show that it is a growing problem and it’s up to us to take steps to reverse the trend.
More on the Founder's of Trak Fertility
At age 23, Sara SDx was told she would never have children on her own. With determination, she took on her health, losing nearly 70lbs and becoming a tri-athlete. Along the way, she met the love of her life, a scientist from Northern California and with gratitude; they were able to naturally conceive both of their sons. Fueled by her passion to help people transform their health, Sara spent countless hours volunteering as a fitness and health coach. As a daughter, wife, sister to four brothers and mother to two sons, Sara developed a particular interest in men’s health.
In 2011, while working at a government lab, Sara’s husband Ulrich invented powerful technology capable of performing a variety of medical tests. The couple saw the technology as a powerful way for people to get feedback on what is happening inside the body. In 2012, they founded a biotech to develop Trak as a tool that empowers men to improve their fertility.
Click on the logo's below to be directed to The Don't Cook Your Balls Blog and to find more information on Trak Fertility. Follow them on Twitter at @DCYBalls and @TrakHQ
At age 23, Sara SDx was told she would never have children on her own. With determination, she took on her health, losing nearly 70lbs and becoming a tri-athlete. Along the way, she met the love of her life, a scientist from Northern California and with gratitude; they were able to naturally conceive both of their sons. Fueled by her passion to help people transform their health, Sara spent countless hours volunteering as a fitness and health coach. As a daughter, wife, sister to four brothers and mother to two sons, Sara developed a particular interest in men’s health.
In 2011, while working at a government lab, Sara’s husband Ulrich invented powerful technology capable of performing a variety of medical tests. The couple saw the technology as a powerful way for people to get feedback on what is happening inside the body. In 2012, they founded a biotech to develop Trak as a tool that empowers men to improve their fertility.
Click on the logo's below to be directed to The Don't Cook Your Balls Blog and to find more information on Trak Fertility. Follow them on Twitter at @DCYBalls and @TrakHQ
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The information above was provided by the Founders of Trak Fertility and does not necessarily represent the official views of the owner of this site. I support the fertility community and all means of family building. I do not represent one specific medical practice or other agencies. Sharing guest posts and information about resources on my blog are to support the cause of infertility and to continue to raise awareness. All posts to my site are for informational purposes only.
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