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Fertility paradox in male beauty quest | Fertility paradox in male beauty quest |
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Scientists have uncovered an evolutionary paradox where men damage their ability to have children during efforts to make themselves look more attractive. | Scientists have uncovered an evolutionary paradox where men damage their ability to have children during efforts to make themselves look more attractive. |
Taking steroids to get a buff physique or anti-baldness pills to keep a full head of hair can damage fertility. | Taking steroids to get a buff physique or anti-baldness pills to keep a full head of hair can damage fertility. |
It has been named the Mossman-Pacey paradox after the scientists who first described it. | It has been named the Mossman-Pacey paradox after the scientists who first described it. |
They say it causes a lot of heartache in couples struggling to conceive. | They say it causes a lot of heartache in couples struggling to conceive. |
"I noticed some men coming in to have their fertility tested and these guys were huge," says Dr James Mossman, now at Brown University in the United States. | "I noticed some men coming in to have their fertility tested and these guys were huge," says Dr James Mossman, now at Brown University in the United States. |
He was studying for his doctorate in Sheffield when he made the connection with steroid abuse. | He was studying for his doctorate in Sheffield when he made the connection with steroid abuse. |
He told the BBC: "They are trying to look really big, to look like the pinnacles of evolution. | He told the BBC: "They are trying to look really big, to look like the pinnacles of evolution. |
"But they are making themselves very unfit in an evolutionary sense, because without exception they had no sperm in their ejaculation at all." | "But they are making themselves very unfit in an evolutionary sense, because without exception they had no sperm in their ejaculation at all." |
Anabolic steroids mimic the effect of the male hormone testosterone in the body and are used as performance-enhancing drugs to increase muscle growth. | Anabolic steroids mimic the effect of the male hormone testosterone in the body and are used as performance-enhancing drugs to increase muscle growth. |
They are regularly used by bodybuilders. | They are regularly used by bodybuilders. |
Prof Allan Pacey, from the University of Sheffield, added: "Isn't it ironic that men go to the gym to look wonderful, for the most part to attract women, and inadvertently decrease their fertility." | Prof Allan Pacey, from the University of Sheffield, added: "Isn't it ironic that men go to the gym to look wonderful, for the most part to attract women, and inadvertently decrease their fertility." |
Anabolic steroids fool the brain's pituitary gland into thinking the testes are going into overdrive. | Anabolic steroids fool the brain's pituitary gland into thinking the testes are going into overdrive. |
So the glands react by shutting down the production of two hormones - called FSH and LH - which are the key hormones that drive the production of sperm. | So the glands react by shutting down the production of two hormones - called FSH and LH - which are the key hormones that drive the production of sperm. |
The researchers say there is a similar theme in men using medication to prevent male pattern baldness. | The researchers say there is a similar theme in men using medication to prevent male pattern baldness. |
The drug finasteride changes the way testosterone is metabolised in the body and can limit hair loss, but side effects can include erectile dysfunction and a hit to fertility. | The drug finasteride changes the way testosterone is metabolised in the body and can limit hair loss, but side effects can include erectile dysfunction and a hit to fertility. |
Prof Pacey told the BBC: "I would say more anabolic steroid users are likely to become sterile than you would think - 90% probably. | Prof Pacey told the BBC: "I would say more anabolic steroid users are likely to become sterile than you would think - 90% probably. |
"Baldness is a bit more hit-and-miss, but sales are going through the roof and that makes it an increasingly common problem." | "Baldness is a bit more hit-and-miss, but sales are going through the roof and that makes it an increasingly common problem." |
'Evolutionary dud' | 'Evolutionary dud' |
The measure of success in evolutionary terms is passing on your genes (instructions in your DNA) to the next generation. | The measure of success in evolutionary terms is passing on your genes (instructions in your DNA) to the next generation. |
Dr Mossman said taking these vanity-based medications might make you more attractive but could turn you into "an evolutionary dud". | Dr Mossman said taking these vanity-based medications might make you more attractive but could turn you into "an evolutionary dud". |
It is not the equivalent of the extravagant peacock's tail, which makes males more attractive to females and increases the chances of passing genes on to the next generation. | It is not the equivalent of the extravagant peacock's tail, which makes males more attractive to females and increases the chances of passing genes on to the next generation. |
There are some examples in the natural world where an animal sacrifices their ability to breed. | There are some examples in the natural world where an animal sacrifices their ability to breed. |
Some bird species perform co-operative breeding in which individuals forego having their own offspring to help raise the descendants of close relatives. | Some bird species perform co-operative breeding in which individuals forego having their own offspring to help raise the descendants of close relatives. |
But even this can make sense in evolutionary terms as half of your genes are shared with siblings so they are still being passed on, just indirectly. | But even this can make sense in evolutionary terms as half of your genes are shared with siblings so they are still being passed on, just indirectly. |
Dr Mossman suspects "thinking you're more appealing to the opposite sex, but killing your fertility" is probably unique to humans. | Dr Mossman suspects "thinking you're more appealing to the opposite sex, but killing your fertility" is probably unique to humans. |
Prof Pacey told the BBC: "The irony is one thing, but I think the key message is for fertility patients. | Prof Pacey told the BBC: "The irony is one thing, but I think the key message is for fertility patients. |
"It keeps cropping up in clinics and the message is not getting out to young men that it's a problem and a bit of info could save them a lot of heartache." | "It keeps cropping up in clinics and the message is not getting out to young men that it's a problem and a bit of info could save them a lot of heartache." |
Follow James on Twitter. | Follow James on Twitter. |
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