006: The State of Sperm & What We Should Know About Men's Health with Dr. Ralph Esposito

Instances of prostate cancer are going up and sperm counts are going down -- so why aren’t we talking more about men’s health? Whether a partner, parent, or friends, we all have important men in our lives. But how often do we talk to them about their health?  Naturopathic physician Dr. Ralph Esposito joins me today to talk about the under-discussed topic of men’s health. We talk about the importance of testosterone in overall health, possible factors contributing to decreasing sperm counts, and what men can do to stay healthy as they age. I hope this episode sparks some conversations with the men in your life. Enjoy! Episode Highlights:  2:49 How Dr. Esposito got his start in naturopathic medicine 4:58 The current state of men’s health and some of the major issues right now 6:57 What men need to know about prostate cancer screenings 10:44 The lifestyle habit that is essential for health  12:57 How to stay healthy as you age 16:45 Do males have cyclical hormone patterns similar to the way women do? 18:33 Men’s testosterone levels are decreasing as they age. But should they be? 20:46 The importance of testosterone to overall health 25:52 Why it’s challenging to diagnose low testosterone and often overlooked 29:31 Things that impact the optimal testosterone level for different men 32:20 How to increase testosterone levels naturally 36:09 The relationship between testosterone and male pattern balding 40:00 Sperm count is declining -- what’s contributing to it and what can you do to prevent it. 42:32 EMF and the impact on sperm health and fertility 44:39 How Dr. Esposito addresses infertility with his patients 46:31 Pornography and the role it can have in fertility issues  49:44 Timing your sexual activity and other lifestyle activities to be mindful of when trying to conceive 51:26 The benefits of sauna use and Dr. Esposito’s recommended approach. 53:48 Things to evaluate when examining sperm count and concentration Links and Resources: DrRalphEsposito.com @Dr.RalphEsposito on Instagram @DrRalphEsposito on Twitter Guest Bio: Ralph is a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and functional medicine practitioner specializing in integrative urology and endocrinology with a hyper-focus on men’s health. His precise and personalized style utilizes a systems biology and precision-medicine approach to medicine. In addition to advising as a peer reviewer for medical journals, he has authored several medical textbook chapters and has designed education modules for health professionals specifically on urological conditions, male and female hormone dysfunction, hypogonadism, exercise, men’s health, and sexual dysfunction. Ralph has worked as a medical intern at NYU Integrative and Functional Urology Center. He holds a position as an adjunct professor at New York University where he lectures on integrative medicine. Currently, Ralph serves as a medical consultant and research analyst in New York City.