As part of the Campus Health Services' Gender Health Campaign, Aevitas Fertility Clinic and -Sperm Bank would like to shed some light on male fertility. Aevitas has a long-standing relationship with Stellenbosch University and acts as a training unit for gynaecologists and scientists in the field of fertility.
Male fertility is something men probably don't think about in their late teens or early twenties; however, having a screenshot of what your fertility health looks like could be to your advantage later in life. Believe it or not, one third of couples struggle with infertility due to male factors, a third due to female factors and a third due to a combination.
A man's fertility generally relies on the quality and quantity of his sperm. If the quality and/or the quantity of sperm is low, it might be difficult or impossible for a couple to conceive naturally.
Lifestyle factors which could influence male fertility:
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Use of illicit drugs
- High BMI (being overweight)
- Psychological stress
- Diet
- Excessive caffeine intake
- Increased exposure to sexually transmitted disease (e.g. unprotected sex with multiple partners; needle sharing during drug use)
How can Aevitas help you to get a screenshot of your current fertility health?
If you want to become an Aevitas Sperm Donor, Aevitas offers free sperm analysis and STD testing to young, healthy, non-smoking men as part of the screening. Sperm donors in South Africa are anonymous. Donated sperm is used during fertility treatment, for couples struggling to conceive.
Through the process of becoming a sperm donor you:
- gain an idea of your own fertility health
- receive financial compensation for your time
- give the gift of life
- have the optional benefit of fertility preservation (sperm freezing), at no charge, for your own future use!
Why would fertility preservation be of benefit to you, if you currently have healthy sperm?
Having sperm frozen can act as a good backup, for potential unforeseen future circumstances, such as:
- Starting a family at a later stage in life. Age plays a role in male fertility, so your sperm quality may deteriorate as you get older.
- Certain medical treatments can cause infertility. Medical treatment such as chemotherapy can have an impact on sperm production.
To find out more contact: spermbank@aevitas.co.za
