• Question: why do you study sperm, and where do you get it?

    Asked by flowersss to Clare on 13 Mar 2014.
    • Photo: Clare Nevin

      Clare Nevin answered on 13 Mar 2014:

      Hi flowerss,

      I study how lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking and exercise can affect sperm function. There has been a decreasing trend in fertility levels in western countries that has been associated with changing lifestlye habits. It is important that we investigate what these damaging factors are so that we can advise the public on how to improve their fertility.

      The aspects of sperm biology that I investigate are sperm motility, morphology (their shape and size) and sperm DNA damage. Smoking has been associated with poor sperm count and motility and reduced fertilising capacity so we do the research to educate people on what is best for their health.

      We have donors that volunteer to give semen samples or we collect them from an IVF hospital where the men are having a procedure to help them concieve.

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