I saved my sperm by cutting out hot tubs and skinny jeans after functional infertility diagnosis, reveals Russell Kane
RUSSELL Kane has revealed he used to swear by a relaxing hot tub session to shake off stress after a stand-up show.
But after finding out he was functionally infertile while filming for new Channel 4 show, Celebrity Save Our Sperm, he cut it out most things hot and sweaty – including his signature skinny jeans.
The father-of-one – keen to try for a second child with his wife Lindsey – joined Melvin Odoom and Ollie Locke for the Channel 4 show about men’s reproductive health.
It was during filming that Russell, 47, was told by experts his sperm count was a low 11million, compared to the national average of 40 to 60million, with his co-stars both hitting that range.
The father-of-one was shocked into changing his lifestyle to improve his fertility, and become fertile again in just ten weeks.
Russell says: “I was in it for the laughs really, to make a bit of telly but I was really surprised.
“The readings came in and it’s not what I was expecting.
“When I got my result, it wasn’t an intellectual feeling, it was emotional – like that sick feeling in your stomach.
“What does it matter if I’ve got 11million sperm per litre and I’ve already got a family unit? It matters because I’m a man and I’m interested in how men’s bodies work.
“As men, I think we’re more vulnerable to be getting depressed and down when our bodies aren’t what they should be – [and after the result] I was feeling something that is irrational.”
“There’s an emotional link to me and my sperm count and I never hear anyone talk about it. Never.”
It was the result that prompted Russell stopped his trips to the spa – and try his best to swap out his sweaty skinny jeans on stage.
He also cut down on his coffee consumption, started using mugs instead of plastic cups and stop using hair-growth stimulating oils after doctors revealed they were negatively affecting his swimmers.
Expert Dr Anand Patel explains: “Sperm count has dropped from 100million to 40 to 50million per millimetre.
“Testicles hang long for a reason. A few degrees above body heat can seriously damage sperm. It breaks the DNA, stops them swimming and makes them abnormal.
“When trying to conceive men should avoid hot baths, hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms – even sitting still for too long, exercising with layers of gym kit – and trapping testicles in tight jeans.
“Russell was literally cooking his balls. Remember, chill your boys, balls.”
Elsewhere, Melvin almost trebles his sperm count by cutting out sugary snacks and keeping his jewels cool with a tiny ice pack while working in the Radio 1 studio.
“Most of my friends are settled down with children and I just don’t want to be like the old dad in the crew. There is someone in my life – a special lady who is pursuing me to have children and that’s my mum,” he jokes.
“She calls me every week asking for grandchildren.
“‘Have I left things too late’ that’s definitely a question that comes into my head.
“If I’d have gone in there and I heard it was going to be a tough job, it would really upset me. I realised just today how much this meant to me.”
While Ollie, who recently revealed he was expecting twins via surrogate with his husband Gareth, cut out alcohol, junk food and cigarettes to improve his sperm functionality.
The Made In Chelsea star was told that while his sperm count was normal, the DNA functionality of his sperm was just one third.
It meant that while pregnancy could occur – damaged DNA would likely cause miscarriage, something he and Gareth experienced twice.
“[Talking about sperm] it’s weird not to laugh and joke but this is actually something that is wildly quite serious,” he explains.
“All our lives we’ve been told about women’s fertility, it’s like the women are always to blame if something goes wrong. Now we understand this slightly more, this is a two-way street.”
Celebrity Save Our Sperm airs tomorrow night at 10pm on Channel 4.