How Much Does Lifestyle Impact Fertility?

Male infertility is an increasingly widespread issue affecting a growing proportion of men and couples. Despite its profound clinical and social impact, male reproductive health often remains overlooked: most men consult a specialist only in adulthood when facing concrete difficulties conceiving, ignoring the importance of early andrological prevention from adolescence.

We discussed this with Dr. Francesco Barrese, a Urology Specialist at the Arsbiomedica Clinic in Rome, who explains the key risk factors associated with lifestyle and why preventing male infertility must begin at a young age.

Lifestyle and Male Infertility: What Are the Risk Factors?

Cigarette smoking, chronic stress, the habit of carrying a smartphone in front pants pockets, and prolonged sedentary behavior are widely recognized as harmful to reproductive health.

As Dr. Barrese points out:

“All of these elements can trigger a decline in sperm quality and overall fertility, particularly in younger individuals. However, the most critical issue lies elsewhere: men simply do not engage in preventive care, especially during adolescence.”

Unlike women, who typically undergo routine gynecological checkups from early puberty onward, men tend to consult a urologist or andrologist only when a clear problem arises. Yet, adolescence is the crucial window for detecting conditions early—conditions that, if left untreated, risk becoming a direct cause of male infertility in adulthood.

When Should Prevention Begin?

Andrological evaluations should ideally start during adolescence, coinciding with pubertal development. Today, the average age for seeking a first child has shifted upward—often around or beyond age 40. Trying to correct issues at 40 that arose or were overlooked at ages 15 to 18 proves exceptionally difficult.

The most classic example is varicocele, an enlargement of the testicular veins that typically develops during adolescence. Diagnosing it early allows for a clearly defined strategy to safeguard fertility:

• Growth Monitoring: The specialist tracks the young patient’s growth to ensure genital development proceeds normally and symmetrically.

• Semen Analysis Evaluation: Once pubertal maturation is complete, a semen analysis (spermiogram) assesses sperm concentration, motility, and morphology.

If the parameters fall within normal ranges, routine periodic monitoring is all that is required. If significant abnormalities are detected, minimally invasive surgical procedures can correct the varicocele and preserve future fertility.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Male Infertility in Rome

Promoting early andrological prevention starting in youth is the primary path to safeguarding male fertility. A specialist visit during adolescence makes it possible to identify and resolve vascular and anatomical anomalies before they cause permanent damage.

At the Arsbiomedica Clinic in Rome, the Urology and Andrology Department offers comprehensive diagnostic programs dedicated to male reproductive health, including testicular color Doppler ultrasound and semen analysis.