Friday, February 12, 2021

Shift Work and Sperm

A year ago, we published an article on the negative impacts of shift work on female fertility and pregnancy outcomes (December 2019 Guide). It turns out shift work may also harm male fertility.

“We know that shift work can disrupt circadian rhythms and disrupt normal hormonal function,” says Dr. Alex Pastuszak of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, who coauthored several studies on the subject. “Shift work can also put people at risk for shift-work sleep disorder (SWSD), which causes insomnia or excessive sleepiness and a reduction of total sleep time due to a work schedule.”

In fact, many shift workers are chronically sleep-deprived, getting less sleep and lower-quality sleep than workers who work regular daytime shifts.

For men who struggle with infertility, those who worked night shifts had much lower sperm counts than those who didn’t work shifts. Men with SWSD also experience higher rates of erectile dysfunction, urinary problems, and lower levels of testosterone.

More research is needed to conclusively link shift work to lower fertility, but the early results seem to show that if you are hoping to start a family as a shift worker, you will want to focus on getting enough shut-eye.

Ways Shift Workers Can Improve Their Sleep

1. Try to sleep on a regular schedule as much as possible.

2. Eat healthy, balanced meals at regular intervals.

3. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy food three hours before bed.

4. Avoid screen time at least half an hour before bed.

5. Sleep in a dark, quiet room.

6. Talk to a sleep specialist if you are having trouble getting the rest you need.

Sources: esquire.com, uclahealth.org, webmd.com

Shift Work and Sperm

Ways Shift Workers Can Improve Their Sleep

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