Israeli researchers find that prolonged stress affects sperm quality
Scientist at Ben-Gurion and Soroka University discover a big difference in samples from those in military conflict
Israeli researchers have found that prolonged stress can impact the quality of sperm, after tests from donations during military conflict.
Comparing them to sperm donations during routine periods, researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Soroka University Medical Center in Be’ersheva noticed a marked difference in more than a third of the samples.
“Mental stress is known to have an adverse effect on fertility, but there is little research on the impact of stress on sperm quality,” said BGU’s Dr Eliahu Levitas. “This study shows that prolonged stress can have an effect on sperm quality.”
The study, based on more than 10,500 samples, was presented at the International Summit on Assisted Reproduction and Genetics in Israel last week. It showed that 37 percent of the sperm samples taken during a stressful period had low sperm motility, the term used to describe the ability of sperm to move of ‘swim’.
The probability of weak motility in sperm samples taken during periods of prolonged stress was 47 percent higher, they said. Weak motility makes it less likely that the sperm will successfully fertilise an egg.
“Our reasoning was that even men who heard incoming rocket warning sirens during a conflict experienced stress throughout the day over a longer period,” said Levitas. “We were surprised to discover that there is a connection between the security situation and the sperm counts.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
