Testosterone: The primary male sex hormone. It’s the jack off all trades (typo but we’ll leave it)… doing everything from regulating libido, to fat distribution, muscle mass, strength, and even the production of red blood cells. Testosterone does it all! But did you know that testosterone is also linked to fertility? Popstar is back and here to spill all the fertili-tea.

Before we understand the relationship between testosterone and fertility, it’s helpful to know how testosterone works. Testosterone is produced primarily in the testes and plays a crucial role in maintaining male reproductive organs, including the production of sperm. Our bodies produce sperm through a process called spermatogenesis. An adequate amount of testosterone is optimal for sperm production and quality. As we learned in 5th-grade health class, sperm is 50% of the recipe for conception so having quality sperm is crucial and increases your chances of getting pregnant.

We have all heard the saying, “It’s quality over quantity.” Why not both? While having a higher quantity of sperm is essential, we also want to ensure our little swimmers are ready for 200m breaststroke and not the kiddie pool! They better be prepared to go the distance circa Hercules. But what makes quality sperm?

The characteristics that would make up the Rolls-Royce of sperm would be its motility and morphology, or shape. The better the shape and motility, the better chance the sperm has of coming in contact with its target, an egg. Luckily Popstar helps to get your swimmers in tip-top shape. Since testosterone and sperm production are directly linked, inadequate testosterone levels can reduce sperm motility and shape. Impaired sperm motility and shape make it harder for your swimmers to reach their target. We want to make sure we are setting our sperm up for success. Therefore, having an adequate amount of testosterone is vital for conception.

Low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, affects much more than fertility, and many causes exist. It can result from various factors, including genetic conditions, testicular disorders, hormonal imbalances, certain medications, obesity, and aging. From what we’ve learned above, we know that hypogonadism can affect your sperm count and quality, but it can also affect your libido. You don’t need to be a doctor to know that it may be challenging to have a baby naturally if you don’t have sex. You can’t win if you don’t get in the race. And without a sex drive, you likely won’t want to have much sex. So if you are someone dealing with hypogonadism, not only could your sperm not be ideal for conception, but you may not even have the drive to do the deed.

So what can we do about it? Starting with eating and living cleaner and healthier is one place to start.  Get good sleep (at least 7-8 hours per night), eat a well-balanced diet, exercise 3-4 times per week (combining cardio and resistance training), and cut back on vices like smoking and drinking.  There are also various medications available that are designed to boost testosterone levels and restore balance. While testosterone is key to sperm production, you definitely should avoid using exogenous testosterone (like injections, gels, or pellets) because prescribed testosterone actually suppresses the function of your testicles, including spermatogenesis.  As always, you should consult your primary care provider or favorite urologist before starting any testosterone boosting treatments.