According to a recent study’s findings, which were published in the Spanish medical journal Revista Internacional de Andrología, men who use vapes could be lowering their libido, shrinking their testicles and reducing their sperm count.
In the ground-breaking study, experts examined the testicle size and sperm count of rats, along with markers of stress in their blood and genitals. It is reported that mice and rats were used because they have similar anatomical, physiological and genetic makeups as humans.
So, if the experts found something occurring in their experiments to the rats, then it could also happen to humans who vape; and in this case vaping men could possibly be harming their reproductive system. Prior to the experiment being fully underway, the researchers took note of the size of the rats’ testicles and sperm counts before proceeding. Reportedly, the average rat had about 98.5 million sperm per milliliter to begin with.
During the study, the rodents were divided into three groups. The first group was exposed to cigarette smoke from the Winston brand. The second group was exposed to e-cigarette vapors; and the the third group was the control group, so they weren’t exposed to anything. Researchers had the rats separated and sitting in “specially-designed bell jars,” and were given the smoke or vapor twice a day for an hour at a time.
In their findings, the experts found that the rats who were hit with the e-cigarette vapor had their sperm count drop to about 95.1 million milliliters from the original 98.5 million. And for the rats who were hit with the smoke from traditional cigarettes, they saw a drop to 89 million milliliters, and these rats also showed the smallest testes compared to the control group and e-cigarette group.
The experts also noted that there were some severe cases experienced, and in those rats, they discovered that they saw stopped germ cell separation, cavity formation, necrosis, fibrosis and atrophy. In conclusion, the study “showed changes in testicular histopathology, spermiogram, and oxidative stress parameters of rats exposed to cigarette and EC smoke.”
Additionally, experts said, “It should be considered that although [e-cigarette] liquid has been introduced as harmless in smoking cessation studies, it could increase oxidative stress and cause morphological changes in the testicle. Nevertheless, .more research is needed to understand the post-exposure spermiogram results.”
The experts noted that although the experiment used rodents, the results found can be applied to men, in showing how those who vape can experience reduced sexual desire, lowered sperm count and shrunken testicles. They did also note that further studies, with humans, will need to be conducted for further support of their findings.
