While you may have come to this article looking for things you can eat, take, or otherwise add to your lifestyle to improve your sperm count and motility, the reality is that eliminating things can increase male fertility as much as adding a few special things in. The census is in.
Smoking is flat out bad for nearly all measures of male fertility. Another large study of over 1, men found that again, male fertility suffers from smoking.
Interestingly enough, some studies have even found potential mechanisms whereby tobacco may harm fertility. Zinc is a critical nutrient for sperm production and smoking seems to lower the level of zinc in semen. One study found that levels of zinc found in the ejaculate in smokers to be associated with the level of damage done to sperm.
All this leads to a pretty resounding conclusion that stopping smoking can increase sperm count, motility, and other male fertility parameters. In the past, a majority of the research on alcohol and its effects on fertility was focused on women, mainly because we are so aware of the risks associated with drinking during pregnancy.
But the times they are a-changing. New research focusing on men is showing that alcohol can affect overall sexual health and male fertility. One particular study focused on the difference in sperm quality between alcoholic and non-alcoholic men.
The results showed that progressive deterioration in semen quality is linked to increasing alcohol cosumption. Sperm volume, vitality, and survival rate also decreased as the quantity of alcohol consumed went up. The study concluded that alcohol abuse targets sperm morphology and sperm production. Another study focused particularly on men with a history of chronic alcohol intoxication.
The study displayed a drastic improvement of semen characteristics within three months of alcohol withdrawal. A review of 15 studies on alcohol and its effects on male fertility found that daily alcohol consumption had a consistently negative impact on sperm morphology and volume.
Using alcohol and tobacco together has also been tied to declining semen quality and sperm DNA damage. Heavy drinking can affect sperm health. Alcohol consumption can cause a shrinking of the testes, changes to the shape, size, and movement of sperm, and lower testosterone levels. Sperm take up to 80 or so days to develop, so if you think you want to have a baby, consider cutting back on alcohol consumption three months prior to trying to conceive.
Sexually transmitted diseases STDs are known to affect the male reproductive process. Studies have shown that chlamydia can cause inflammation in the testicles. This inflammation can cause epididymal obstruction. The epididymis connects the testicle to the male reproductive system. In addition to causing male fertility issues, chlamydia is known to negatively impact female fertility.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease PID. STDs are associated with infectious semen and they increase the chances of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV. HIV causes immunodeficiency along with semen deterioration in men. If passed to the female partner, HIV can cause reduced pregnancy rates and higher chances of miscarriage. A review of studies published by the World Health Organization found that in alone there were approximately million cases of curable STIs among adults aged million cases of chlamydia, 27 million cases of gonorrhea, million cases of trichomoniasis, and 18 million cases of syphilis.
Spermatogenesis, the production or development of mature sperm, takes place in the testicles. This lower temperature environment is necessary to ensure successful spermatogenesis.
Higher temperatures lead to an increase of testicular metabolism that results in spermatic damage. In one study, heat stress caused a decrease in motility and an increase in the percentage of sperm cells with major and minor defects. A study conducted by the University of California San Francisco found that exposure to hot baths or hot tubs can lead to male infertility. All of the participants were asked to abstain from wet heat exposure for at least three months. Five of the patients 45 percent showed a mean increase in total motile sperm counts of percent after three to six months.
Among responders, sperm motility rose from a mean of 12 percent at the start of the study to 34 percent post-intervention. The results of this experiment were statistically significant.
Five of the six patients who did not see an increase in their sperm count or motility were chronic tobacco users. Tobacco use emerged as a possible differentiating factor in this research. Based on the results of the UCSF study, it appears that the negative impact of wet heat on sperm motility can be minimized over time.
Fertility specialists recommend avoiding wet heat from hot tubs or heated jacuzzis prior to and while trying to conceive. Another study published in focused on the effects of continuous sauna exposure on seminal parameters.
Sauna exposure was found to cause impairment of spermatogenesis, including alteration of sperm parameters and sperm DNA packaging. So keep those swimmers cool! Research has shown the damage caused by exposure to heat, whether dry or wet, is reversible. Environmental toxins have become more prevalent over the last few decades causing an increase in exposure to human populations.
Many men are exposed to toxins at work. A study in Spain focused on the role environmental toxins play on male infertility in men being treated at an assisted reproduction clinic.
The study had 61 participants: 30 infertile males and 31 males with sperm considered to be normal. Of the 30 infertile males, 23 had been exposed to toxins or pollutants at work. Of the 31 men with normal sperm, only 10 had been exposed to toxins occupationally. The toxins included glues, solvents, and silicones.
The results of the study suggest that occupational exposure to toxins may often be the cause or a contributing factor to male infertility. Other research has confirmed the findings of the previously mentioned studies and concluded that toxins also make the chances of IVF success much less likely. The study found that the worst fertility disrupters are organochlorine compounds chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins , bisphenol A BPA , and organophosphate pesticides and herbicides.
Other chemicals, metals, and air pollutants were also found to damage fertility. For men, environmental toxins cause infertility by disrupting the endocrine system and damaging the male reproductive system. Reducing exposure to environmental toxins can be difficult, especially if you encounter them at work every day. Toxins are ev erywhere. They can be found outside, in the food we eat, and in the cookware and bottles in our kitchens.
As you know, fruits and vegetables are often treated with pesticides to deter insects and other organisms from eating them. These tainted water supplies cause fish and meat also to contain toxins. BPA is found in most food packaging, cans, and water bottles. BPA products contaminate the foods and water they contain. BPA and other chemicals within pesticides act as xenoestrogens chemicals that mimic estrogen. Research has shown that xenoestrogens cause a decrease in motile sperm counts and overall semen quality.
Minimizing exposure to toxic chemicals can be quite easy. Simply limit the use of products known to contain toxins and be mindful to consume foods that are a single ingredient as much as possible.
Also, avoid using non-stick cookware as it contains some of the same chemicals found in pesticides. Soy products contain phytoestrogens. Just like xenoestrogens in chemicals and pesticides, phytoestrogens are known to damage sperm concentration. A study of 99 men attending a fertility clinic found that a higher intake of soy is associated with lower sperm concentration.
The results of this study have been published and discussed in the Harvard Health Publishing by the Harvard Medical School. The adverse effects of dietary soy are of great interest because soy has been touted for its health benefits like lowering cholesterol. Soy is a main staple of many Asian diets and can be found in foods like edamame, meat alternatives, and soy products like soymilk.
Trans fat can be found in food either as naturally-occurring or artificial trans fats. Naturally-occurring trans fats are produced by animals and can be found in milk and meat products. Trans fats have been linked to a decrease in sperm counts.
To reduce trans fat intake, the American Heart Association AHA recommends limiting the amount of foods you eat that contain hydrogenated vegetable oils. Be sure to check for them on the ingredient list on food packages. Stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand. Over time, continued stress can cause serious health problems. Stress is one of the most complicated causes of male infertility because a diagnosis of infertility only makes the problem worse.
Stress can increase after diagnosis of male infertility, follow-up appointments, and failed in vitro fertilization treatments Studies have found that semen parameters and stress are linked. Stress can negatively impact luteinizing hormone LH and testosterone production causing complications in spermatogenesis and reduced sperm quality. Infertility related stress can be caused by social pressures, testing, diagnosis, treatments, failures, and the costs of fertility treatment.
Couples undergoing fertility treatment are known to experience distress, depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. The body becomes less concerned with reproduction and focuses more on surviving, in times of distress. Have a healthy diet, exercise regularly and do something that you enjoy doing. All of this will help in managing stress. For men who are suffering from severe stress or anxiety, doctors may prescribe anti-anxiety pills.
Smoking reduces sperm count consistently. A study conducted in reviewed the result of 20 other studies including 6, people. It was found that men smoking consistently had reduced sperm count. Consumption of drugs such as marijuana and cocaine is directly related to decreased sperm count.
Even excessive alcohol lowers the testosterone levels and sperm quality and quantity in men. It can even cause low libido and even impotency. Taking Vitamin D and calcium supplements have shown to improve the sperm count, say studies. This is because lower levels of Vitamin D have been directly linked with low sperm count. You can ask your doctor and buy these from anywhere without even prescription.
Antioxidants help in reducing the number of free radical in the body. These free radicals can cause inflammation, which in turn can lead to several diseases and problems. Increasing the number of antioxidant foods in your diet can help increase the sperm count, say several studies. Ashwagandha, also called Indian ginseng has been used as a traditional remedy for several forms of sexual dysfunction.
A study found that 46 men with low sperm count who took milligrams of ashwagandha daily for 90 days increased their sperm count by per cent. Vitamin C is not only necessary for boosting your immunity, but it is good for your health in many ways.
One of them is to increase your sperm count. Increasing the intake of Vitamin C can help to improve blood flow in the body and the ability to maintain an erection. Have citric fruits like lemon, oranges, tomatoes to increase your sperm count. Fenugreek seeds are not only packed with healthy nutrients, studies suggest that the tiny seeds can also increase testosterone level and sperm count.
The seeds can increase overall semen quality and sperm count. Add some fenugreek seeds in a glass of water and leave it overnight. Remove the seeds and drink the water first thing in the morning. Being overweight can lead to several health concerns like diabetes, cardiovascular issues and even low sperm count. Fat accumulation in the body can reduce the testosterone level in the body and decrease sex drive. So, exercise and eat healthy to lose weight and increase your sperm count. Ditch those tight briefs and skinny jeans if you want to increase your sperm count.
Tight clothes can make your scrotum too warm, which can have a negative impact on the production of the sperm. As per a study, wearing boxers are much better than wearing briefs. Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox. A weekly guide to the biggest developments in health, medicine and wellbeing delivered to your inbox. Thank you for subscribing!
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