A Harvard-trained doctor has suggested that vaping may decrease sperm production in men.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist in San Francisco, claimed that chemicals in the devices can enter the bloodstream and travel to the testicles.
Once there, he said, they can cause sperm cells to die or damage the swimmers and DNA they carry, which can harm a man’s fertility.
Sperm quality has been in free fall for decades. According to experts, this decline is a ‘threatening situation for humanity’.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist in San Francisco, warned online that chemicals in the devices can enter the blood and travel to the testicles (above, clips from his TikTok)
In 1973, studies suggest The average ejaculate contained approximately 101.2 million sperm per milliliter (million/ml) of semen.
But by 2018, this number had more than halved to just 49 million/ml.
However, there is no concrete evidence that vaping is linked to decreased sperm production. Instead, experts point to other factors, including a bulging waistline.
Dr. David Shusterman, a urologist in New York City, said, “I would advise people not to vape, but it’s not because of the impact on sperm count, it’s because of the other health problems that come with it.”
He added: ‘Everyone seems to think that anything can cause a decline in sperm production, but in reality the most important factor is people’s lifestyle.’
According to him, there are other factors that can cause low sperm volume, such as people who exercise less and eat a lot of processed foods.
Age could also play a role. Research shows that the number of sperm cells in men decreases by as much as three percent per year from the age of 40.
Previous studies have shown that smoking drastically reduces sperm count in men due to the toxins released when the substance is burned. This also applies to what happens when something burns.
In a TikTok video, he revealed three things he said could affect a man’s fertility
Vapes don’t use the same combustion fire, but instead rely on atomization – where a liquid is broken down into very fine droplets or mist – meaning they don’t release the same toxins.
In a TikTok clip he posted to his audience of 364,000 followers, Dr Sethi said: ‘Vaping releases chemicals like propylene glycol, which has been linked to reduced sperm quality and motility. [movement]’, he said.
“These chemicals can cause oxidative stress, which can affect your fertility.”
Men are more likely to vape than women. A CDC survey found that about 5.1 percent of men 18 and older currently use e-cigarettes.
However, younger men use the devices much more often: in the 18 to 24 age category, the percentage has even doubled to 11.6 percent.
The concerns about e-cigarettes and fertility add to the growing list of health problems associated with these devices, including increased risk of lung cancer, lung damage and heart disease.
In his video, Dr. Sethi revealed his three biggest “male fertility killers.”
The other two he named were in hot saunas and had cell phones hidden in their front pockets, both of which they say can harm a man’s sperm production.
He said: ‘The high temperatures of hot tubs and saunas can reduce sperm count and quality because the testicles need lower temperatures to produce healthy sperm.
‘Single, long-term exposure can affect sperm production for up to three months.
‘Secondly… research shows that carrying your cell phone in your front pocket can reduce sperm count and motility due to electromagnetic radiation.’
Some studies have found that saunas can lower sperm counts because they cause heat stress in the testicles. Their average temperature of about 155 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit is significantly higher than the 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit needed to produce healthy sperm.
Male fertility researchers and urologists have previously indicated that this should only be a problem for people who do these exercises regularly.
Previous studies have also shown that cell phones can be detrimental to sperm quality, as the heat produced by the devices can cause heat stress in the testicles.
But in recent decades, thanks to new technologies, the power consumption of phones has decreased, which has significantly reduced this risk.
Previous studies have also failed to show a consistent link between where a person hides their phone and sperm quality.
Other experts say these claims have already been “debunked.”
Dr. Sethi regularly posts health tips online for his followers on TikTok and other social media platforms including Instagram and YouTube.
