#MaleInfertility

A rising fitness craze fueled by social media is pushing many men in their 20s and 30s to try testosterone boosters. While the goal of stronger bodies and more energy is appealing, medical experts warn of real risks, including potential damage to fertility.

In gyms and online shops across Thailand, testosterone boosters range from herbal blends to injectable hormones. Aggressive marketing and influencer endorsements often promise quick gains, but doctors caution that the benefits may come at a steep personal cost. Self-prescribing and unsupervised use raise serious health concerns.

A new wave of fitness culture and social media influence has driven increasing numbers of men—including many in their 20s and 30s—to use testosterone supplements in pursuit of enhanced masculinity, muscle gain, and sexual vitality. However, recent research and expert warnings are raising red flags: these supplements, widely marketed as a path to becoming an ‘alpha male,’ can actually cause infertility, with potentially irreversible effects.

Across gyms and online platforms in Thailand and worldwide, testosterone boosters—ranging from herbal products to powerful hormone injections—are being promoted as quick solutions for increased strength, confidence, and libido. This market boom has been further fuelled by aggressive advertising, gym trainer recommendations, and the influence of fitness influencers online. Yet, experts are cautioning that the promised benefits may come at the cost of a man’s future ability to father children, and that misuse can have wider health implications (NDTV).

New research highlighted during World Infertility Awareness Month and reported by mainstream outlets has shed light on five modifiable lifestyle factors that may quietly affect men’s reproductive health. As Thai families increasingly seek answers to fertility challenges, these findings offer practical guidance for personal wellness and future family planning.

While infertility discussions often spotlight women, experts emphasize that male factors contribute to roughly one third of global cases. Sperm quantity, quality, and hormone regulation can be influenced by daily choices. With nearly 186 million people affected by infertility worldwide and a substantial share related to male health, understanding these risks remains urgent. Data from leading researchers suggests obesity, smoking, poor diet, environmental exposures, and stress are key drivers of compromised fertility.

Emerging research findings, highlighted during World Infertility Awareness Month and recently reported by ABC News, have thrust male infertility into the public spotlight, identifying five modifiable lifestyle factors that could be quietly undermining men’s reproductive health. As families across Thailand increasingly seek answers to fertility challenges, these latest insights carry crucial implications both for personal wellness and for future generations.

Although infertility discussions often focus on women, specialists estimate that male factors significantly contribute to around a third of all cases worldwide (ABC News). “When we think about fertility, there’s a lot of focus placed on females,” noted an ABC medical contributor. “But male issues can include problems with sperm volume or quality, congenital obstructions, infections, and various underlying medical conditions.” With nearly 186 million people globally affected by infertility—half of whom face male-related issues—the urgency of understanding male-specific risks has never been greater (Tesarik, 2025; Amoah et al., 2025; WHO 2025).

Sperm power human reproduction, a fact scientists have explored for centuries. Yet despite advances, many aspects of this tiny cell remain mysterious. Recent studies remind us that sperm are far more complex than once thought, and the questions they raise continue to push research forward.

For Thai audiences, questions about fertility touch daily life, health, and national family planning goals. While fertility technologies such as IVF have progressed, global data show a worrying trend: sperm counts appear to be declining, and many cases of male infertility remain unexplained. Thailand mirrors this global situation, underscoring the importance of reproductive health in public policy and everyday decisions.

Sperm, the key driver of human reproduction, has fascinated scientists for almost 350 years—yet much about this microscopic “explorer” remains tantalisingly unclear and continues to confound researchers even today. Despite their crucial role in the survival of humanity, recent research reveals that sperm is far more mysterious and complex than once believed, leaving many fundamental questions unanswered and opening new frontiers for scientific inquiry.

For Thai readers, whose concerns span from personal fertility to national demographic trends, the continuing enigma of sperm research is not just a matter for scientific curiosity—it touches on health, society, and the future wellbeing of families across the nation. The paradox is striking: even as advances have been made in reproductive technologies such as IVF and fertility treatments, global evidence indicates that sperm counts are on a worrying decline, and male infertility remains unexplained in the majority of cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023).

A groundbreaking new study has found that men with better semen quality—particularly higher counts of motile (moving) sperm—may live two to three years longer than their peers with poor semen quality, offering an unexpected connection between male reproductive health and overall lifespan. The research, published recently in Human Reproduction and led by a team at Copenhagen University Hospital, marks the largest-ever exploration of the relationship between semen parameters and all-cause mortality among men, bringing attention to an overlooked marker of men’s health with broad implications, including for Thai men navigating lifestyle and healthcare choices (News-Medical.net).

A major new study suggests that men with higher semen quality, especially more motile sperm, may live about two to three years longer than peers with poorer semen quality. The finding links reproductive health to overall lifespan and highlights semen health as a potential indicator of general well-being. The research, published in Human Reproduction, involved researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital and represents the largest analysis to date of semen parameters and all-cause mortality in men. The Thai medical community has long noted connections between lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and male reproductive health, and this study adds a broader health perspective for Thai men navigating modern living.