Unhealthy habits during adolescence can affect sperm quality later in life, the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) has said.
Sperm cells are produced by the scrotum, or the male reproductive organ, the agency’s family planning and reproductive health deputy, Eni Gustina, explained at the ‘Reproductive Health in Millennial Era’ webinar on Thursday.
Male teenagers, specifically millennials, who are exposed to various technologies must inculcate a sharp awareness to maintain their sperm quality, she said.
The scrotal temperature requires to be maintained below 20 degrees Celsius, she added.
A smartphone kept in the pant pocket can likely cause the area around the scrotum to become hot, she said.
The habit of wearing tight pants such as jeans and smoking are also factors that can reduce the quality of sperm, she informed.
Working in an environment with high temperatures, such as a factory, can also affect sperm quality, she said.
According to Gustina, during sexual intercourse, the number of sperms produced by males can reach up to six million.
If only half of these six million cells live, then a male’s reproduction can be called unhealthy, she added.
It is best that unhealthy behaviors be discarded at least six months prior to marriage to improve sperm quality and reproductive health, she advised.
It is because adolescence is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood, wherein biological, cognitive, social, and emotional development occurs, she said.
Hence, this should be prepared for to avoid developmental issues and to achieve the demographic bonus in the future, she added.
Source: Antara News