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Male Fertility and Regular Sauna Use: Does Sauna Use Lower Sperm Count?

By Saunas.org - Kat | | Cold Plunge, Cold Therapy, Hormones, Male Fertility, Research & Data

There is no coincidence that the testicles exist outside of the body, and this is relevant because this organ is dramatically affected by heat. In fact, testicles need to be several degrees cooler than the rest of the body. When it comes to a discussion regarding sauna use it is important to consider sperm production and scrotal health in general. 

Can a sauna session lower a man’s sperm count? Not immediately. Regular sauna use does not eradicate sperm production altogether, however continued exposure to high heat can reduce sperm production. If fertility is an issue for a couple actively trying to get pregnant, perhaps men would do well to skip the sauna for a month or two.

Regular sauna use does not have a long lasting impact on sperm production. With a closer examination into how heat affects the testicles, it would benefit men looking to reproduce to use a sauna in an optimal capacity that supports their testicular health.

In this article you will find out more about sperm regeneration on a daily basis, as well as on a cyclical basis, what you can do to ensure your sperm count stays where you want it while still benefiting from sauna use, and how to sauna to support male fertility. 

Important to note is that plenty of males have impregnated females while using a sauna  regularly. Sauna use does extinguish the possibility of sperm production and therefore impregnation of a female, but the use of a sauna should not to be considered as a viable contraceptive, ever!

Testicles Need to be Kept at a Lower Temperature Than the Rest of the Body For Optimal Sperm Production

It is curious that besides the skin, the male sex organs are the only organ of the human body that exists outside of the body. The reason for this is largely because testicles need to be kept at a distinctly cooler temperature from the rest of the body. Science Direct published a well known study entitled ‘Endocrine Effects of Sauna Bathing’, and this peer reviewed journal provides a wealth of knowledge including detailed information on the effects of sauna use on spermatogenesis (the creation of new sperm):

“Scrotal temperature is 2–3 °C lower than body core temperature , and it is considered quintessential for spermatogenesis. It is disturbed when testicular temperature is elevated, e.g., in cryptorchidism, fever, varicocele, or even obesity.” (1)

This same publication goes on to clearly state the following on sauna use and sperm count: 

“Scrotal hyperthermia by exposure to sauna can induce a significant alteration of spermatogenesis.” (1)

It is worth noting that while there is a reported ‘significant alteration’ of spermatogenesis, this does not mean that it stops altogether, but that it is limited by regular use of a sauna. 

Biology itself indicates the need for testicles to be kept at a cooler temperature from the rest of the body, so it makes sense that exposing this organ to high heat in a variety of capacities for any length of time will adversely affect its function. Nevertheless, a landmark study that we will examine closely provides the scientific data to support this relatively obvious truth. 

The Data that Supports Sauna Bathing’s effect on Spermatogenesis Over the Course of Time

A study published by the National Institute of Health entitled: ‘Seminal and molecular evidence that sauna exposure affects human spermatogenesis’ relays detailed and relevant information with respect to sauna bathing and sperm count. (2)

The study proceeded as follows:

“Study question: What are the effects of continuous sauna exposure on seminal parameters, sperm chromatin, sperm apoptosis and expression of genes involved in heat stress and hypoxia?

Summary answer: Scrotal hyperthermia by exposure to sauna can induce a significant alteration of spermatogenesis.” (2)

This study used Finnish traditional saunas with high heat ranging from 176-194 degrees Fahrenheit and examined the sperm count of its ten participants over the course of a total of six months, and examined sperm count at the outset of sauna use, after 3 months of sauna use, and after six months six months of sauna use. The participants used a sauna twice a week for a duration of 15 minutes. 

The segments of 3 months and 6 months are significant because although new sperm are produced daily, men still go through a 64 day total sperm regenerative cycle. According to Research Gate’s Publication on ‘Sperm Biology and Production”:

“This entire process from production to ejaculation of mature spermatozoa takes, on average, 64 days to complete.” (3)

The findings of the aforementioned study also suggests that the alterations of sperm production are not permanent:

“Our data demonstrated for the first time that in normozoospermic subjects, sauna exposure induces a significant but reversible impairment of spermatogenesis, including alteration of sperm parameters, mitochondrial function and sperm DNA packaging. The large use of Finnish saunas in Nordic countries and its growing use in other parts of the world make it important to consider the impact of this lifestyle choice on men’s fertility.”

Practically, what does this mean for men using a sauna regularly? If you are not actively trying to reproduce then it is unlikely that this study will have much impact on your sauna use. If you are concerned about how regular sauna bathing may impact your sperm count, then read on for suggestions on how to do so and still be mindful of your sperm count. 

How Can Men Sauna Regularly While Still Caring For Their Sperm Count?

  • Use a different type of sauna with lower temperatures
  • Apply an ice pack to the testicals during sauna use
  • Abstain from sauna use during reproductive stages of life

It should be stated again, sauna use does not annihilate sperm count. It should never be considered as a viable contraceptive as many males have impregnated women while using a sauna regularly.

Men may want to veer on the safe side and stick with an infrared sauna that produces similar results as a traditional sauna, but at much lower temperatures. In an infrared sauna, the internal body temperature still increases to high temperatures such as found in fevers, so this may not be the safest solution for sperm count, but may help somewhat. The atmospheric temperature of an infrared sauna can be as low as 120 degrees and still benefit the body immensely.  This is significantly lower than 190 degrees as is the case in traditional saunas, or during the aforementioned study. 

Regardless of the type of sauna being used, men can place an ice pack that is wrapped in cloth on their exposed genital area during a sauna to keep the testicles cool throughout the sauna regardless of sauna temperature. If you have ever tried a cryo chamber you will be familiar with the protective wear for male genitalia. Although not the most comfortable option, it will help to cool the testicles off.

Finally, it is important to remember that spermatogenesis regenerative cycle of 64 days if you are actively trying to reproduce. If reproduction or starting a family is your priority consider abstaining from sauna use for an entire regenerative cycle of your sperm. This means for roughly 2 months abstain from high heat exposure entirely. Once your mate has been impregnated then you can go back to your regular sauna use. 

During this time if you are missing thermotherapy consider a cold plunge as this will still provide many benefits associated with sauna use, including immunological benefits, improved heat shock protein production and much more.

 In short, high heat, including the use of the sauna, does affect sperm count. Is this irreversible? Yes! Does spermatogenesis continue to occur daily as well as cyclically during periods of sauna use? Yes! Nevertheless if you are particularly concerned with protecting your sperm for whatever reason consider using an infrared sauna instead of a traditional sauna that depends on extremely high temperatures. Also consider applying a cooling apparatus during your sauna to your genital region, or simply abstain during times that you want your sperm count to be at its highest. 

Yes, Regular Sauna Use Affects Sperm Count, but Not Entirely, and Not Irreversibly

Depending on your particular life circumstance sperm count will be more or less important at any given time. The science is in, and saunas will lower your sperm count than if you did not sauna. Given how much research there is to support the use of sauna for all cause mortality, heart health, and other conditions perhaps consider using a sauna regularly, except for during times when fertility is an issue for you.

If you choose to abstain from sauna use for periods of 64 days more or less while trying to fertilize your partner, consider using a cold plunge as a substitute for your sauna use.

If you are working with a fertility specialist also consult with them to ensure that your sauna bathing is not interfering with your fertility potential. Remember that while you sauna you should always stay well hydrated, ensure that you are taking in enough magnesium, and directly after sauna use take some time to cool off your genitals before getting dressed for the day. 

Sources Cited:

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2451965019301048#bib35
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23411620/
  3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283864069_Sperm_Biology_from_Production_to_Ejaculation
  4. https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/how-long-does-it-take-for-sperm-to-regenerate#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

Thermoregulation, Hormesis, and Regular Sauna Use: Why Heat Therapy Can Be Effective in the Treatment of Such a Vast Array of Ailments

By Saunas.org - Kat | | Cold Plunge, Cold Therapy, Health Benefits, Healthspan, Heat Shock Proteins, Hormesis, Stress response

It may seem baffling that sauna use is associated with the amelioration of such a vast diversity of ailments; almost at times as if sauna bathing is touted as a cure-all. From improved heart health, Fibromyalgia, Psoriasis, to better hormonal function, this is just a few conditions that are positively affected by regular sauna use. 

So what is happening with the body to create the necessary biochemical changes to elicit such vastly different illnesses? The answer is simple Thermoregulation. The human body, unlike almost all other species on earth, has the unique capacity to sweat, and therefore regulate internal temperatures despite very high external temperatures.

The act of taking a sauna induces thermoregulation by means of hormesis (intentional positive stress on the body). As the whole organism responds to the heat, a myriad of changes occur in the body that are correlated with the improvement over time of many different adaptations. 

If you examine the process of thermoregulation as it occurs during an intentional and relatively short period of time as seen in the sauna, it is relatively simple to understand how and why saunas may positively affect seemingly unrelated diseases. 

What Is Hormesis?

“That which does not kill us only makes us stronger” -Nietzsche

The use of the hormetic effect can be seen in many areas of medicine and positive lifestyle behaviors such as vaccines, radiation, icing of an injury, exercise, dermatological applications, and even intentional high heat exposure. Hormesis is the intentional act of exposing the body to a chemical, substance, behavior, or temperature that places a stress on the body for a limited period of time or in a limited dose. 

Very often prolonged exposure to the same substance, temperature, or behavior could be very dangerous to the body; however, medicinal and quantified ways have the inverse effect. For example, icing a sprained ankle early on can help to improve the body’s natural healing mechanism; however, being deserted outside in  below freezing temperatures for a prolonged period of time may end in death of the body. The same is true of vaccines that are given out as small doses to create a resiliency within the body for later on in life in the event that the individual is exposed to the same disease in a higher dose. (1)

Humans have used intentional high stress placed on the body for a short amount of time, or in a small enough dosage to create an ultimately stronger body for a long time and in many different areas of health. 

In many ways the old adage of the German philosopher, Nietzsche was correct as it relates to medicinal treatments when he penned: “That which does not kill us only makes us stronger”. Although the philosopher may not have had sauna use and cold plunges in mind at the time that he wrote this, the same basic principle still applies. (2)

Entering into a sauna creates heat stress on the body, but at a controlled temperature and for specific amounts of time. Exposure to a 150 degree sauna for 40 minutes will create many positive effects in the body; however, continued exposure to high heats without relief can harm the body. 

 In short, hormesis is a dosage of stress placed on the body with the intention of creating a healthier milieu for human physiology. 

What Is Thermoregulation?

The thermoregulatory center of the body sits in the hypothalamus close to the center of the brain. This process is similar to having a thermostat responsible for detecting the temperature of your entire home. If the environment is too cold the temperature is raised, and if the environment is too hot the temperature is lowered. Your central heating or cooling system sends signals out to many of the body’s systems, organs, proteins, and cytokines to begin a cascade of action in the body to bring the body back to a stable state of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. (3)

In addition to the hypothalamus, the body also has temperature sensors on the skin, and in tandem with the central thermoregulatory system, the body continues to always seek homeostasis. 

In more academic terms, according to the publication ‘Physiology, Temperature Regulation’ from the National Library of Medicine, here is what thermoregulation does for the body:

“The human body’s thermostat is the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center, which, more specifically, is located in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus. This center sets the body’s set point and regulates temperature homeostasis. The hypothalamus contains temperature sensors, which receive information via nerve cells called thermoreceptors. The body has peripheral and central thermoreceptors. The peripheral thermoreceptors are located in the skin and sense surface temperatures, while central thermoreceptors are found in the viscera, spinal cord, and hypothalamus and sense the core temperature. Variations in body temperature activate these thermoreceptors, which inform the preoptic area of the hypothalamus. This area then activates heat regulation mechanisms to increase or decrease body temperature and return it to baseline.” (3)

If you prefer a more visual form of learning, then take a look at the anatomical image below:

(4)

As the body seeks to warm itself up or to cool itself down, many wonderful biochemical responses occur such as activation of the heart, improved circulation, production of heat shock proteins, and vasodilation, and of course perspiration, as well as many other positive responses within different organs and systems of the body.

Vasodilation: “Vasodilation refers to the widening of the arteries and large blood vessels. It is a natural process that occurs in response to low oxygen levels or increases in body temperature. It increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to areas of the body that require it most.” (5)

The net result of the body engaged in thermoregulatory patterns for specific periods of time elicits a wonderful myriad of changes that alter the body’s composition in such a way as to promote overall health. 

Even before humans had the science and the tools to understand the specific happenings of the body under severe heat, the ancients knew its power.

“Give me the power to produce fever and I’ll cure all disease” Parmenides ~500 BC

The fever is induced during certain illnesses. Although it feels like a symptom, it is actually the body rallying the forces of thermoregulation to begin the healing process. 

A sauna, at its most crude interpretation, induces an artificial fever to summon positive biochemical reactions in the body to optimize health and wellness, regardless of what may be ailing you. 

How Using a Sauna Intentionally Induces the Positive Effects of Thermoregulation & Hormesis

The use of a sauna is the enlisting of both the hormetic effect in conjunction with thermoregulatory functions of the body. As discussed earlier, hormesis is exposure of the body to potentially harmful stressors but in a controlled dosage. In the case of cold exposure, or heat exposure there is the possibility of severe danger.

“Disruption of the body’s ability to thermoregulate can lead to temperatures that are too low (hypothermia) or too high (hyperthermia).” (3)

The temperature of a sauna can be controlled, as well as the time that a person spends in the sauna so as to avoid hypothermia. It is hot enough to induce a medicinal level of heat in order to conjure up the healing power of thermoregulation. 

When heat stress of the hormetic variety is married to thermoregulation the result is the sauna operating as a tool for health and wellness. Thermoregulation summons the power of the body to begin to cool itself off by the induction of sweating process, increase of the heart rate, and improved circulation as well as Heat shock Protein production. The center control of thermoregulation is in the brain. It sparks immense changes in the nervous system at large.

It is the coupling of the hormetic effect with thermoregulation that sauna use is able to singularly affect many different ailments of the body.  

Sauna Bathing May Improve Many Aspects of Health: One Behavioral Action May Induce A Total Upgrade of the Body’s Milieu

Hopefully, by now there is a better understanding of how sauna use on a regular basis may affect a positive change on many different aspects of the body. The reason is simply that thermoregulation as it is induced through hormesis affects the entire body from the center of the brain, through every organ, blood vessel, protein, cytokine, and likely beyond what can currently be measured. 

The body is flooded with an array of incredible biological changes during a sauna session that may alter the course of the body’s health for a lifetime. 

Regardless of the time and temperature restrictions during a sauna it is still imperative to maintain excellent hydration levels before, during, and after each and every sauna session. Sauna use and high heat is not for everyone. It should not be used to treat all medical conditions. Please always consult a medical professional before beginning a sauna program.

Citations:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2661975/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6875627/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507838/
  4. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-simplified-human-thermoregulation-the-hypothalamus-checks-the-bodys-core-temperature_fig1_333743297
  5. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327402