Men’s Reproductive Health: Protecting Your Reproductive Fluid from Toxic Ingredients

by John Dugan Owner

Men who are interested in reproductive health (and what red-blooded male isn’t?) want to keep their reproductive fluid in good health, especially if fatherhood is in the future plans. But protecting a man’s reproductive fluid may be harder than a guy thinks. It turns out that men are routinely exposed to elements every day which can have a cumulative impact on reproductive fluid health and production.

New study

For example, in a recent study, researchers collected both reproductive fluid and urine samples from more than 300 men who were patients at an infertility clinic.

Once they had the samples, the scientists took the reproductive fluid and ran tests to determine the level of quality from each sample. They then looked at the urine samples and tested those to determine the levels of 5 different “parabens,” additives that are often used in personal grooming products like toothpaste, shampoo, soaps, cosmetics, etc.

When they compared results, they found that if a man had high levels of parabens, he was much more likely to have a lower quality of reproductive fluid. This lower level of reproductive fluid quality meant the reproductive fluid might be poorly shaped and might not travel well inside the woman. Higher levels of one particular paraben (called butylparaben) indicated a greater chance of DNA damage to the reproductive fluid. (The other parabens studied were ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben.)

Pthalates, too

Parabens aren’t the only chemical ingredients a guy needs to look out for. Many grooming and beauty products may also contain ingredients known as phthalates, which can do damage to reproductive fluid. The big problem with phthalates is that it’s hard for consumers to identify them; they are often just listed as “fragrances” (which can cover a wide range of ingredients) without being specifically identified as phthalates. Lower reproductive fluid counts, irregular shapes and poor movement are thought to be associated with too much exposure to phthalates.

Pthalates do tend to turn up more often in female cosmetic products, but they’re present in some grooming products for men, too.

And hair dye

To complicate things even more, there’s also lead acetate, another ingredient found in some grooming products. This is often included in hair coloring products, which more and more men are using nowadays.

What to do

In most (but not all cases), the amount of “reproductive fluid-toxic” ingredients in any one product is not enough not cause problems from a single use. However, repeated use, and the presence of ingredients in multiple products, can create a cumulative effect, such as that reported in the study cited above.

So if a guy wants to help protect his reproductive fluid quality, the first thing he should do is read the labels of his various grooming and health products to see if they list parabens, phthalates, lead acetate, etc. If they do, he then needs to investigate alternatives. Many health and beauty products are now made by companies that use only natural ingredients; a guy should still read the labels, but hopefully he can find replacements that are equally effective.

Keeping reproductive fluid healthy is only part of being in excellent reproductive health. Maintaining the general well-being of the manhood through the use of an excellent male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is also advised. Men should read the ingredients label of these crème options as well and find one with L-arginine. This amino acid helps produce nitric oxide, which in turns helps open up blood vessels. Be sure the ingredients list also includes vitamin C. This popular vitamin is valuable for its role in collagen production, a tissue in the body that gives skin its tone and elasticity and is vital for intimate performance.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common male organ health issues, tips on improving male organ sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy member. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.