Can being a vegetarian effect mens ability to reproduce?

Question

When i say reproduce, i mean ruin their sperm.

I know its possible for woman. (i know a lady who cant have children anymore because she went veggie, no meat).

Answer 1

Improper nutrition can ruin health, which can ruin reproductivity.

improper nutrition can be eating nothing but salad with baco bits

it can be eating nothing but balogna

it can be eating nothing but lettuce and tomatoes

It has nothing to do with vegetarianism

Learn a little nutrition.  The woman did NOT become infertile because she became vegetarian..She became infertile because she wasn't eating properl (My guess would be she was a so-called "Vegetarian" to mask an ED, and EDs can  kill reproductive abilities. Many ED patients claim to be "Vegan" or veg so they can excuse their picky eating)OR, your acquaintances fertility problems could have nothing to do with diet.

So be careful what ignorant (sorry, no other word for it) statements you make.. a PROPER vegetarian diet (or even vegan) is completely healthy, actually is the BEST Diet

both my bro and his wife have been veggie since they were around 10 years old... And have mostly avoided dairy and eggs since their marriage..  Guess what??? Both times they've tried for a baby, She's gotten pregnant pretty much the  month after she quits BC..

Fertility problems?? Don't think so...

Their totally vegan children are thriving.. healthy, large for their age (mostly in height, the 10 month old is a little chubby, as many babies are, the 4 year old is tall, husky but not fat, healthy as a horse.. absolutely BEAUTIFUL little girl.. WAY to smart for her own good)

So... watch what ignorant assumptions you make.. vegetarianism has NEVER made anyone infertile.. Eating improperly has.. there's a difference.. There's vegetarians who don't eat properly, and there's meat eaters who don't eat properly..

Answer 2

Nah. Vegetarians are healthier in every single way if you practice the diet correctly.

Answer 3

Please--look at India. That is one of the most populated places in the world, and they are all vegetarian there.

Answer 4

No.

I know zinc is a mineral important for fertility, but it's not a problem for veg*ns- it's found in nuts, seeds, beans and wholegrains.

Sorry but there are more factors involved with fertility. It's not just about your diet. There are people who live on pizza, chips, soda and other junk for years, and they can still have kids. Genetics has a role to play too, as does your lifestyle (your level of stress) and your day to day environment.

[edit] Wow, ha ha awesome answer Cordelia.

Answer 5

No, sorry, it is not an effective form of birth control, I know from experience.

If animal products contained any essential nutrients that aren't found anywhere else, I doubt that I would have become a father while trying to postpone the event. This is after being vegan for 5 years.

I seriously doubt that this "lady" you speak of is infertile due to lack of meat consumption.

Answer 6

The only reason that could happen is if a woman had an untreated thyroid condition and totally OD'ed on soy as in like tofu IV drip...that isnt normal...Im a veggie and I am 9 mos pregnant with a 10 lb perfectly healthy baby....Vegan men who maintain a healthy diet acutally produce more sperm of higher quality!  So Veg away!

Answer 7

No.

I don't want to be harsh to your female friend as not being able to have children is a terrible thing. However, it is NOT the result of her vegetarian diet!!! Not eating sufficient calories could possibly result in making your friend infertile if her vegetarianism was a cover for an eating disorder (I don't want to jump to conclusions or judge here, it is most likely that her infertility is non-diet related)

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence.

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

Why would they say this if being vegetarian has any effect on a persons ability to reproduce? Answer: they wouldn't.

The same goes for males, your sperm will not be affected if you become vegetarian (and as a side note there are rumours it would even taste better!).

Answer 8

no, actually, red meat can affect a man's sperm from what I've heard.

Answer 9

It can lower testosterone levels, but that's about it