Ice on testicles and donating blood - the myths sold to men trying to boost their sperm

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Ice on testicles and donating blood - the myths sold to men trying to boost their spermImage caption, Simon, 28, performs a multi-step routine in a bid to protect his fertilityByJacqui WakefieldGlobal health reporterPublished1 hour agoEvery morning, Simon starts his day in a sauna, with an ice pack strapped to his groin. "I place it on the testicles in order to preserve high sperm count," he says. He believes the heat helps him sweat out toxins, improving his sperm function - but says he must take care to protect his testicles from the excessive heat.

The 28-year-old from Miami gets daily sunlight exposure, exercises regularly, only drinks filtered water and wears cotton boxer shorts - all part of a fertility-focused health regime which he follows despite any medical evidence to prove it works. There is an element of truth behind these claims - environmental pollutants and heating the testes can impact sperm quality. But it's unlikely these steps Simon takes will make a massive difference to his fertility, although exercising will improve general health.

The Details

He is part of a growing number of men paying close attention to their fertility. On TikTok and Instagram, hashtags such as #malefertility, #semenanalysis and #sperm attract hundreds of millions of views, while online communities dedicated to improving sperm health have grown rapidly. Simon is not planning to have children any time soon and doesn't have a partner - he is more concerned with whether a low sperm count could affect his health.

He worries if he has low fertility it could affect something called the endocrine system, a network of glands and organs in charge of releasing hormones in the body. But there isn't evidence this is the case. A low sperm count won't trigger endocrine problems, although they may happen together in some people.

'I choose to protect my fertility'Male fertility experts around the world say they have seen an increase in the number of men requesting semen analysis and expressing concerns about their future fertility. The experts believe this is partly due to concerns about the impact of testosterone replacement therapies (TRT), steroids and certain environmental toxins all of which can adversely impact hormones responsible for sperm count. UK-based fertility expert Prof Suks Minhas says that there are pros and cons to the increased discussion around declining sperm and male fertility.

What Experts Say

"It is important to raise the profile of male infertility. But are we fuelling that worry unnecessarily? "Meanwhile, an industry of influencers and products are emerging in response, capitalising on this anxiety, he adds.

Like many others, Simon first became interested in fertility through social media, where influencers speaking about declining sperm counts sparked his concern. Yet he has never had a semen analysis and has no specific reason to think he has a fertility problem. "It's something that I'm generally scared of, so I choose to protect my fertility," he says.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.