Does Pre-workout Affect Male Fertility? According to Science

Workout supplements can affect sperm cell production because they may contain illegal substances that interrupt brain signals that stimulate the release of hormones responsible for producing sperm cells.

Furthermore, research has shown that exercise supplements with a high sugar content may lower the quality of sperm in men, leading to lower counts [1].

However, not all exercise supplements are harmful to fertility, as some ingredients found in natural sports supplements, like certain antioxidants, have been shown to improve not only sperm concentration but also motility and morphology.

More on this in the next section.

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Caffeine is a popular ingredient known to fuel performance, but research has found that it may have a negative impact on men's reproductive function.

Research shows that caffeine can damage sperm cells by breaking up their DNA and causing them to have an abnormal number of chromosomes, both of which are linked to an increased risk of pregnancy loss [2].

On a positive note, moderate caffeine intake of less than 200 mg per day does not appear to reduce the quality of sperm cells that cause miscarriage or premature birth [3].

The right amounts of BCAAs in whey protein powders have been shown to have a synergistic effect on sperm function and testosterone production, which results in increased fertility [6].

Furthermore, research suggests that the combination of these three amino acids—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—can help speed up protein synthesis [7].

When tissue fibers grow faster, men gain bigger lean body mass and get more androgen receptors in their muscles.

Both L-carnitine (LC) and acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) have been shown to boost energy production by improving mitochondrial function [10].

This effect of carnitine in cells promotes better lipid metabolism, which enhances the normal progressive movement of sperm cells.

Furthermore, ALC is high in antioxidants, which can aid sperm maturation by protecting them from oxidative damage, increasing the number of normal-shaped, motile sperms [11].

Getting enough zinc in pre-workouts can help increase testosterone levels, sperm count, and semen quality, thus enhancing fertility in men [13].

A meta-analysis of 20 different studies published in 2016 found that getting enough zinc can improve the motility, shape, and number of sperm.

Also, taking zinc through natural performance-enhancers has been shown to protect sperm from the damaging effects of toxins [14].

Anabolic steroids, also called anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), have been linked to male fertility issues because they disrupt brain signals that stimulate the testes to produce normal sperm count.

According to research, anabolic steroids mimic testosterone in the body, giving the brain the impression that there are high levels of testosterone in the blood.

The brain then sends signals to the body to stop the release of luteinizing hormones (LH) and follicular stimulating hormones (FSH), which stimulate T-production, resulting in a decrease in testosterone and sperm cell creation [16].