Can working in a hot place make me infertile?

Low sperm count

My brother has blood in his sperm

What causes low sperm count?

Question
I work in a very hot place (an iron foundry) and read recently that working in a hot environment can eventually cause male fertility problems.

I am very worried about this and wondered if it is possible to deposit some of my sperm in a sperm bank just in case when I decide to have children I'm infertile?

I know sperm banks exist for childless couples, but are there any where an individual can store some of his own sperm for other reasons?

Answer
There is no doubt that sperm production is temperature dependent.

The scrotum is naturally designed to hold the testicles away from the body and the veins carrying blood away from the testicles back into the body help to keep them below body temperature.

Several experimental studies have shown that artificial increases in scrotum or testicle temperature in fertile men reduce both sperm output and quality .

Only a few studies of the effects of occupational heat exposure on male fertility have been conducted, but from reviewing these, it would seem that occupational heat exposure is a significant risk factor for male infertility, which can result in delayed conception.

Facilities referred to as 'Long-term sperm cryopreservation' are available for banking sperm in advance of wanting to start a family, or prior to a vasectomy for those men who have had a family but want to save some sperm just in case.

Using this technique, sperm can be stored for a long period of time and used later on.

I suggest that you have a word with your doctor about your plans and concerns and be guided by them as to how best to proceed.

Yours sincerely

Dr John Pillinger, GP