The influence of testosterone on male fertility
Testosterone is a key hormone for every man's health – especially if he wants to have children. Whether it's libido, potency, or fertility – testosterone plays an important role in all of these issues. Accordingly, lack of desire, poor sexual performance, and reduced fertility are among the typical symptoms of testosterone deficiency in men.
If you want to optimize your fertility and are looking for a natural testosterone booster, you'll find valuable information in this article:
- how testosterone affects the process of sperm formation,
- how the male cycle regulates testosterone production and
- how you can naturally increase your testosterone and optimize your fertility.
Spermatogenesis: The process of sperm formation
Did you know that your body produces more than 1.5 ml of semen with each ejaculation – a live mix of the secretions of the Cowper's glands, prostate, and seminal vesicles? 1 Sperm production in men is truly a highly complex process!
Some men desire more sperm to increase the fun factor during sex – but when the desire to have children is paramount, it's not the volume of ejaculate that counts, but rather the number, shape, and mobility of the sperm swimming in it. 2
If you want to increase male fertility, you have to take a closer look at the process of sperm production in the testicles.
What happens during spermatogenesis?
Sperm production occurs in the seminiferous tubules, located in the tubular compartment of the testes. 3 The process follows several steps:
- Cell division by mitosis: the stem cells (spermatogonia) divide in such a way that each cell produces two identical daughter cells with a double set of chromosomes – the type B spermatogonia
- Cell division by meiosis: the type B spermatogonia divide, but this time in such a way that each cell produces four genetically different germ cells with a single set of chromosomes – the spermatids
- Maturation or spermiogenesis: the round spermatids change their shape and develop into spermatozoons or spermatozoa with the typically elongated head, which carries the male genetic material, and the long, mobile tail, which serves for locomotion
This special construction allows the sperm to complete the approximately 20 cm long "swim" from the vagina through the uterus up into the fallopian tube and penetrate the outer shell of the egg cell. 4
The role of Sertoli cells in sperm production
Sertoli cells are located at the base of the seminiferous tubules and form a buffer between the stem cells (spermatogonia) and the sperm that develop from them. They produce over 60 proteins, including:
- androgen-binding globulin (ABG), which achieves the high concentration of androgens (male sex hormones) in the seminiferous tubules required for sperm maturation
- Proteins that provide nutrients to developing germ cells – e.g. ferritin, which is responsible for iron supply
The Sertoli cells also take over the disposal of the cellular residues that remain during the sperm maturation process. 5
What role does testosterone play in spermatogenesis?
The function of Sertoli cells is controlled by hormonal signals – testosterone being particularly important! Without testosterone, the process of spermatogenesis remains incomplete. The spermatids cannot mature into sperm, as described above.
Testosterone signals can affect cell development directly or indirectly through the activation of certain enzymes (kinases). 6
Testosterone deficiency can therefore also have a negative impact on male fertility!
However, men who want to boost their testosterone and increase potency and fertility should not rush into synthetic testosterone supplements. While testosterone can be purchased without a prescription from various, more or less reputable online pharmacies, this is not advisable, especially when trying to conceive.
External administration of testosterone can suppress sperm production. Therefore, even a medically diagnosed testosterone deficiency in those who wish to have children is not treated with conventional testosterone replacement therapy, but requires a special approach. 7 Apart from that, it is generally not advisable to buy synthetic testosterone and take it on your own without medical supervision – for health and legal reasons. 8
Good to know: There are numerous ways to boost your body's own hormone production and thus increase your testosterone in a completely natural way.
The male cycle: An often overlooked phenomenon
A first important fact about the body's own hormone production: Testosterone levels in the blood are not always constant. Testosterone levels are highest in the morning and decline throughout the day before rising again around midnight.
The reason for this is that your testicles produce 6-7 mg of testosterone every day, which is released into the blood in a circadian rhythm. 9 This means that not only women have a hormonal cycle, but there is also a male cycle—namely, a 24-hour cycle with regard to testosterone.
It would therefore not be surprising that the male cycle also influences sperm quality throughout the day – however, scientists seem to be divided on this point. While some studies cite early evening as the optimal time 10 , others point to midday 11 or even early morning 12 . The influence of other factors on male fertility is much clearer.
Male fertility: influence of age and lifestyle
While women's fertile phase ends with menopause, men's fertility can be maintained into old age. However, the likelihood of becoming a father decreases. Starting at age 24, it decreases by 3% each year. 13
The physical aging process can be tracked through both hormone levels and sperm quality. Of course, this process can't be completely stopped—but with a lifestyle perspective, there are a number of things you can actively do to increase male fertility.
As age increases, testosterone production and fertility decrease
Hormone production in the testicles decreases with advancing age – and a man's testosterone level drops by an average of 0.4% annually between the ages of 40 and 70. 14
The situation is similar when male fertility is presented in a table based on age: While sperm concentration remains largely constant, sperm motility decreases noticeably—and this, of course, reduces the chance of successful fertilization of the egg. Furthermore, the risk of miscarriage increases with the father's increasing age. 15
But not everyone wants to have children at a young age, and so the question often arises: How can fertility be increased in men over 40?
Lifestyle also influences fertility
Scientific studies show that our everyday habits have a measurable impact on fertility. This particularly applies to lifestyle factors that can be actively influenced, such as diet, alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical activity, psychological stress, and even cell phone use (electromagnetic fields). 16 Not all possible influencing factors have been conclusively clarified, and studies on the effects of caffeine consumption are still inconclusive. However, this should not distract from the fact that there are demonstrably many levers that every man can use to increase his fertility – not immediately, of course, but rather in the medium term and, of course, always within the scope of his individual capabilities.
What can I do to boost my fertility?
For all men who want to increase their fertility, we have compiled a clear summary of the most important factors that can be influenced:
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A balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, and nuts, which provide plenty of fiber and antioxidants, as well as fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy products. Particularly important micronutrients are zinc (contributes to normal testosterone production) and selenium (supports normal spermatogenesis). You can read more about which foods boost testosterone in our article on nutrition and testosterone !
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco , as these stimulants have a negative effect on sperm quality 18
- healthy normal weight, as both overweight and underweight can have a negative impact on testosterone levels 19 and also sperm concentration 20 .
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Regular moderate exercise is sufficient to stimulate testosterone production 21 and can also have a positive effect on sperm quality, while excessively intense exercise can also have a negative effect 22
- Sufficient restful sleep has a positive effect on testosterone production 23 and sperm quality 24
- 5 mg zinc, i.e. 50% of the daily nutrient reference value for healthy adults
- 55 μg selenium, and thus 100% of the nutrient reference value
- Vitamins A, E, D3 and K2
- high-quality superfoods such as ginkgo, shilajit, tribulus and maca.
- Walter Krause, Wolfgang Weidner, Herbert Sperling, Thorsten Diemer (eds.): Andrology. Georg Thieme Verlag 2011, p. 27 ↩
- Gerd Plewig, Thomas Ruzicka, Roland Kaufmann, Michael Hertl (eds.): Braun-Falco's Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology. Springer-Verlag 2018, p. 1558. ↩
- Eberhard Nieschlag, Hermann Behre (eds.): Andrology: Fundamentals and Clinical Features of Male Reproductive Health. Springer-Verlag 2009, p. 17. ↩
- Walter Krause, Wolfgang Weidner, Herbert Sperling, Thorsten Diemer (eds.): Andrology. Georg Thieme Verlag 2011, pp. 28-29. ↩
- G. Mikuz: The multitasking Sertoli cell. In: Der Pathologe 40, (Suppl. 3) 2019, pp. 318–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00292-019-00711-9. ↩
- WH Walker: Testosterone signaling and the regulation of spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis, 1(2), 2011, pp. 116–120. https://doi.org/10.4161/spmg.1.2.16956. For more information: O'Donnell L, Stanton P, de Kretser DM: Endocrinology of the Male Reproductive System and Spermatogenesis. [Updated 2017 Jan 11]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279031/ ↩
- Walter Krause, Wolfgang Weidner, Herbert Sperling, Thorsten Diemer (eds.): Andrology. Georg Thieme Verlag 2011, pp. 65-66. ↩
- Anti-Doping Law, 2015. URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/antidopg/BJNR221010015.html ↩
- Peter P. Nawroth, Reinhard Ziegler (eds.): Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Springer-Verlag 2001, p. 248. ↩
- IA Korneyev et al.: Analysis of diurnal variability of sperm donors' semen parameters. In: Urology reports (St. - Petersburg) 2019, 9 (1), pp. 11-16. doi: 10.17816/uroved9111-16 AND Y. Shimomura et al.: Comparison between semen parameters in specimens collected early in the morning and in the evening. In: Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine , 66(2), 2020, pp. 147–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/19396368.2020.1727994 ↩
- Kun Liu et al: Diurnal rhythm of human semen quality: analysis of large-scale human sperm bank data and timing-controlled laboratory study. In: Human Reproduction , 37(8), August 2022, pp. 1727–1738, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deac135 ↩
- M. Xie et al: Diurnal and seasonal changes in semen quality of men in subfertile partnerships. In: Chronobiology International , 35(10) 2018, pp. 1375–1384. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2018.1483942 ↩
- Michael Böhm, Friedrich Jockenhövel, Wolfgang Weidner: Men's Consultation Hours. The Practical Handbook of Counseling, Prevention, and Therapy. Springer-Verlag 2004, pp. 75-77. ↩
- Walter Krause, Wolfgang Weidner, Herbert Sperling, Thorsten Diemer (eds.): Andrology. Georg Thieme Verlag 2011, p. 239. ↩
- Michael Böhm, Friedrich Jockenhövel, Wolfgang Weidner: Men's Consultation Hours. The Practical Handbook of Counseling, Prevention, and Therapy. Springer-Verlag 2004, pp. 75-77. ↩
- K. Balawender, S. Orkisz: The influence of selected modifiable lifestyle factors on male fertility in the modern world. In: Central European journal of urology , 73(4), 2020, pp. 563–568. AS WELL AS A. Ilacqua et al.: Lifestyle and fertility. The influence of stress and quality of life on male fertility. In Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 16, 115 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0436-9 ↩
- Albert Salas-Huetos et al.:Diet and sperm quality. Nutrients, foods and dietary patterns. In: Reproductive Biology , Volume 19, Issue 3, 2019, pp 219-224, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.repbio.2019.07.005. ↩
- K. Balawender, S. Orkisz: The influence of selected modifiable lifestyle factors on male fertility in the modern world. In: Central European journal of urology , 73(4), 2020, pp. 563–568. https://doi.org/10.5173/ceju.2020.1975 ↩
- Gary Wittert, Mathis Grossmann: Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and testosterone in aging men. In: Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 23, 2022, pp. 1233–1242. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-022-09746-5. ↩
- TK Jensen et al: Body mass index in relation to semen quality and reproductive hormones among 1,558 Danish men. In: Fertil Steril . 2004 Oct;82(4):863-70. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.03.056. ↩
- Wolfgang Laube: Sensorimotor System. Detailed Physiological Knowledge for Physiotherapists. Georg Thieme Verlag 2009, p. 599. ↩
- F. Belladelli: Male Fertility and Physical Exercise. In: The World Journal of Men's Health , 41(3), 2023, pp. 482–488. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.220199 ↩
- Pranjal Agrawal et al.: Sleep disorders are associated with testosterone deficiency and erectile dysfunction—a US claims database analysis. In: International Journal of Impotence Research 36, 2024, pp. 78–82. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-022-00649-2. ↩
- Heng-Gui Chen et al.: Sleep duration and quality in relation to semen quality in healthy men screened as potential sperm donors. In: Environment International , Volume 135, 2020, 105368, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105368. ↩
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