Firefighters Struggling With Heat-Related Infertility

Firefighters Struggling With Heat-Related Infertility

Male infertility is a big concern, and there are numerous causes for not being able to produce viable sperm. But a recent study indicates that firefighters, who put their lives on the line every day to save innocent people, might be putting their future childbearing chances on the line as well.

The Danish Cancer Society Research Center recently conducted the world’s first large-scale investigation of fertility issues in firefighters, and the results aren’t good. It’s been known for a while that the job carries with it a significantly larger risk of cancer and other respiratory issues, but the impact on their testicles has just recently been found.

Temperature is crucial for maintaining optimal sperm production - that’s why your balls hang on the outside of your body as opposed to being protected inside your abdominal cavity. That fresh air and cooling allows the testes to produce the healthiest, most viable little swimmers.

But firefighters face significantly higher temperatures in carrying out their jobs, and in the study of 5,000 Danish ones they correlated a measurable deficit in fertility. In addition to working in flames, firefighters wear thick insulating suits that don’t allow for a lot of airflow, causing even higher amounts of heat.

Read more at Fatherly.