New Study Says Bacon Is Bad For Your Sperm

It might be time to stop enjoying a breakfast favorite, as according to a new study, bacon is bad for your sperm.

The findings from the study, published in the medical journal ‘Fertility & Sterility’, suggest that eating sausage, bacon and canned meat might be killing men’s chances of reproducing.

Bacon Is Bad For Your Sperm

Researchers were concerned specifically with couples undergoing infertility treatment.

They studied 141 men whose female partners underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2007 to 2014. Using dietary questionnaires, they determined the scope of each man’s typical meat intake.

And men who avoided processed proteins like sausage, bacon and canned meat had a 28% higher success rate than those who had them regularly.

However, on the bright side, the study found no link between overall meat consumption and successful fertilization, regardless of treatment technique. Plus, for men who ate a large amount of poultry, the fertilization rate was actually 13% higher than those who didn’t.

The research also found that bacon eating guys in couples who used the more expensive ICSI technique – in which a single sperm is injected into an egg – were actually just as successful as their processed meat-avoiding counterparts. So, it’s not all bad news for those who love their pork.

Although the reasons for bacon consumption affecting the guys was not immediately clear to researchers, the results do follow the recommended healthy eating lifestyle doctors prescribe to couples undergoing IVF treatment.

In a news release, Dr. Rebecca Sokol, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said:

“This study suggests that the type of meat a man consumes may influence his sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg. Eating a healthy diet is an easy change to make, and worth making for reproductive health as well as overall health.”

We think maybe the bible had it right here that avoiding bacon (or pork altogether) might be right. Even if you’re not religious, many religions think that pork is an unclean meat. Pigs are also known to be smarter than even man’s best friend- the dog. The good news is I’ve had a few new bacon substitutes that are really as good as bacon. I swear!