02 Jun 2025
2h 19m

#351 ‒ Male fertility: optimizing reproductive health, diagnosing and treating infertility, and navigating testosterone replacement therapy | Paul Turek, M.D.

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The Peter Attia Drive

In this episode of The Drive Podcast, Peter Attia interviews Dr. Paul Turek, a male fertility and reproductive health expert, about the intricacies of conception from the sperm's perspective, the challenges sperm face, and factors impacting sperm quality such as heat, stress, and environmental toxins. They discuss optimizing male reproductive health, the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on fertility, and emerging fertility technologies. Turek explains the sperm creation process, the composition of ejaculate, and the importance of the epididymis. The conversation covers infertility definitions, diagnostic workups, semen analysis parameters, genetic factors, and the impact of lifestyle choices like sauna use, exercise, alcohol, and recreational drugs on male fertility. They also touch on the risks associated with advanced paternal age and potential interventions for men seeking to preserve or restore their fertility.

Outlines

Part 1: Introduction and Sperm Journey

Part 2: Sperm Production and Maturation

Part 3: Male Infertility Evaluation and Causes

Part 4: Testosterone and Fertility

Part 5: Lifestyle Factors and Male Fertility

Part 6: Other Factors Affecting Fertility

Part 7: Success Rates, Paternal Age, and Sperm Banking

Part 8: Conclusion

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