Snow Balls Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take the body to create a spermatozoa?

About 74 days, or approximately 10 weeks. This process is continually beginning anew, however, so any “organic” treatment for male infertility will ideally be done over a period of several months.

What effect can heat have on sperm quality?

Heat can kill sperm, but just as importantly, it creates conditions that complicate your body’s ability to efficiently produce sperm, resulting in lesser quality (“sperm motility”) and lesser quantity (“sperm count”). A consistent scrotal temperature increase of even just one degree Celsius will adversely affect your sperm production.

Why does cooling work?

Studies have shown that occasionally reducing the temperature of the scrotal area by just 2-5 degrees Celsius can reverse male infertility. The enzymes responsible for testosterone and sperm production work most effectively at a certain optimal temperature, and even a one degree increase in temperature takes you out of the optimal zone. Keep yourself cool, and your body will be able to do its job most efficiently.

How are Snowballs SnowWedges™ designed to maximize these benefits?

Our patent-pending SnowWedges™ have undergone extensive testing with consulting doctors. They are designed with a central hinge that cleverly molds the SnowWedge™ around your body to reach maximum surface area and maximum cooling. Unlike normal icepacks, they won’t get you wet, and you won’t have to sit there holding ice for hours. Admit it: even if you understand that testicular cooling is good for you, and even if you want a child more than anything, you’re not likely to keep up an unpleasant, messy, and time-consuming routine for long. With Snowballs you can keep moving, keep working, and keep playing, without wasting time thinking about a problem that you’re undoubtedly devoting enough mental and physical energy to already.

Can I see improvements with just a couple of hours of cooling a day?

Yes. Your body is always producing sperm, and the more often you create the optimal conditions within yourself for that production, the better. The goal is to decrease your daily average scrotal temperature.

When should I cool?

Snowballs have been designed to make cooling convenient: anytime, anyplace. But give some thought to when your body temperature is the highest – after a workout, under the bed covers, coming out of the shower – and try to establish a routine that keeps you cool at the times you know you’re hottest. This will decrease your daily average scrotal temperature as effectively as possible.

How soon can Snowballs positively affect spermatozoa?

Studies of men who cooled their testicles nightly showed a significant increase in sperm count after just eight weeks, and a further increase after twelve weeks. Given the time it takes to produce sperm, three months of treatment is recommended to see a marked improvement.

What other measures can I take to reduce scrotal temperature?

Heat is your enemy. We advise you to wear looser pants and underwear (or no underwear at all), avoid saunas, baths, and excessively hot showers, put your laptop anyplace other than your lap (in your lap, those laptops have been shown to increase your temperature by 2.8 degrees, which is more than enough to do some damage), occasionally wash your scrotum in cool water, and eventually, in consultation with your doctor, consider varicocele embolization or surgery.

What are varicoceles, and what is the difference between varicocele embolization and surgery?

Incredibly, the cause of infertility in roughly 40% of infertile males is a varicocele. A varicocele is an enlarged vein in the scrotum that causes abnormalities in the temperature regulation of the testis. You’ve heard of varicose veins in legs. Well they can also develop in the scrotum, and they’re more common than people suspect. 15-20% of all men have a varicocele, and it’s logical that an enlarged vein carries more blood and brings more heat. In addition, because the vein is enlarged, the valve that prevents blood from settling in the vein may not close completely, keeping excessive blood in the scrotum, which means additional heat. Again, heat is your enemy.

To treat a varicocele, the options are surgery or varicocele embolization. Surgery (a varicocelectomy) is minimally invasive and has a high success rate (with 97% of men regaining normal blood flow and sperm production), but it can be costly (roughly $4,000). Varicocele embolization is a process as effective as surgery, but requiring no incision to the scrotum and no general anaesthetic. It’s painless and patients generally return to work the next day. The cost, however, is usually as high as surgery.

Snowballs can help minimize the effects of a varicocele, but it’s also worth asking a doctor specialized in male fertility about additional solutions. Procedures for treating varicoceles are relatively new, so you may meet with some skepticism, but once we began to do a bit of research, we were blown away by the implications.

What other lifestyle changes can I make to increase my chances of conceiving?

• Stop smoking. Studies have shown that smoking damages sperm, but fortunately the damage can be reversed if you stop.
• Drink less, and avoid hard alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption has also been shown to damage sperm. Incidentally, your partner in pregnancy really shouldn’t be drinking either, so find a new drink together.
• Avoid heavy cell phone use. Research on this is still developing, but at least one study has shown that men who use a cell phone for more than 4 hours a day have lower average sperm counts and sperm quality.
• Eat as healthily and organically as you can. There has been some interesting research on pesticides found on produce and on hormones added to meat and dairy products. These additives can have a significant effect on a man’s hormonal balance. Interestingly, many pesticides mimic the hormone estrogen, which lowers sperm count and semen production. And fiber, which is found in lots of grains and vegetables, can help the body rid itself of unnecessary estrogens.
• Try a vitamin supplement for 3-6 months. There are some supplements for male fertility on the market, but look for these vitamins and herbs.
  1. Maca: increases libido and healthy sperm
  2. Tribulus: increases testosterone and luteinizing hormone, which stimulates the testes to secrete testosterone
  3. Ginseng: increases sperm count and sperm motility
  4. Zinc: important for increasing testosterone levels
  5. Folic acid: men with low levels of folate have a higher risk of producing sperm with too little or too many chromosomes, which in turn can lead to birth defects and miscarriage
  6. Vitamin C: can protect sperm from oxidative damage (especially important for smokers)
  7. B12: may improve sperm count and sperm motility
  8. L-carnitine: an amino acid, L-carnitine is essential for sperm formation, maturation, and quality maintenance
  9. Antioxidants: antioxidants protect the sperm from free radicals, which can damage the sperm’s health, leading to higher proportions of birth defects and miscarriages
• Work out at least 3-4 times a week (and avoid cycling).
• Sound mind in sound body. Live well, think positive thoughts, be healthy for your own sake first.

Use Snowballs daily and make these lifestyle changes, and you’ll almost certainly see an increase in sperm count and quality, giving yourself the best shot for conceiving. 

Are Snowballs guaranteed to work?
We believe in miracles, but don’t count on Snowballs to work “miracles”. They should increase both sperm quality and quantity, and they should give you a better chance to conceive at minimal cost, but fertility science is complex, and you’ll also want to consult with a urologist (for varicoceles), as well as your fertility specialist. Snowballs may end up being just a supplemental treatment for you. It can’t hurt, and it will likely help. At the same time, do your own research (see our FAQ section for more) and think for yourself. IUI and IVF didn’t work for us, and we met several world-class doctors before one suggested that scrotal temperature might be the problem. People said we were crazy to ice ourselves. We looked desperate to our friends. But in our case, cooling worked, and although every case is different, it is our fervent hope that it works for you too.