Improving Fertility In Males

NOTE: TRIGGER WARNING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING INFERTILITY ISSUES.
Most couples want to have children at some point in their relationship. Some get lucky, but there are plenty who are still waiting to conceive. When the cute bundle of joy finally arrives, it can be one of the most memorable days for both the parents.
For some people, conceiving might be difficult. Males should take care of their health because their lifestyle can affect their fertility.

Understanding the male reproductive system’s health should be one of the steps that the couple should take.

What is Sperm’s Health?

The health depends on several factors, including the movement, structure, and the quantity inside the male reproductive system.

Movement

Some of the sperms should be able to swim and wriggle their way to the fallopian tubes. The motility can be checked by a lot of tools such as Yosperm male fertility tests. For a man, the normal range of motility is 40%. This means that this is the minimum number that should be moving to be considered fertile.

Structure

The structure or also known as morphology. The healthy sperms have long tails and oval-shaped heads. These two factors help them propel their way to the fallopian tube. This might not be an essential factor but seeing the standard shape and structure will indicate fertility.

Quantity

This is the most crucial factor to consider. The amount for a single ejaculation should be about 15 million sperm per milliliter. If one can’t reach this threshold, there will be fewer candidates to fertilize the egg cell. This can be more difficult to impregnate one’s partner.

Ways to Boost Fertility

Fertility can improve with diet, supplements, lifestyle, and other factors. Here are some of the ideas on how you can have a healthier seminal fluid. You can apply some of these ways in your daily life to improve your fertility.

Take Supplements such as D-AA

D-AA or D-aspartic acid is an amino acid that is present in testicles and semen. Read more about DAA in this link here. Some researchers that lower levels of D-AA may decrease the levels of testosterone in the body.

Studies show that taking this supplement will increase testosterone production by 50%, motility by 60%, and sperm count by 70%. Some women reported that they got pregnant when their male partners took these supplements.

For infertile individuals and athletes, this supplement can significantly boost testosterone. However, for healthy individuals, it is found that D-AA does not have a significant effect on their testosterone levels.

Regular Exercise

Exercise is not limited to jogging and walking. You can do hikes or move around. This can improve your mood and your testosterone at the same time.

Researchers found that physically active men have better semen quality. They also have a high sperm count. But doing too much exercising may have the opposite effect on one’s reproductive health. Too much can reduce testosterone levels, so make sure to regulate your activities.

If you are exercising, take zinc supplements. This will minimize the risk of lower testosterone and can boost your immune system at the same time. You can also take caffeine and creatine to serve as supplements. Weightlifting and resistance training are some of the best exercises that you can do in your spare time.

Take Vitamin C

Stress caused by oxidation can be caused by old age, diseases, pollutants, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Vitamin C can counteract this stress and can improve the quality of semen.

Men who take vitamin C show that they were able to increase the motility of their sperm in just two months. The deformed sperm cells were also reduced.

When levels of reactive oxygen species ROS reach high levels, stress can be the result. ROS can cause DNA damage in many sperm cells. Vitamin C reduces the amount of ROS in the body because it is an antioxidant. The extracellular fluid that it contains can reduce free radicals in the body.

Other Tips to Conceive

There are environmental factors that make sperms vulnerable. These factors include frequent exposure to chemicals, pollutants, and living an unhealthy lifestyle. Here are different ways that men can do to protect their fertility

Don’t Smoke and Quit Smoking

Cigarette smoking has been linked to a lot of diseases in the body. Smoking can also lead to low numbers of sperm cells, and your doctor may ask you to quit if you are planning to conceive a child.

Limit Intake of Alcohol

Alcohol drinking has been linked to low productions of testosterone in the reproductive system. It can also result in impotence. It is fine to drink alcohol from time to time, but make sure to do it moderately.

Avoid Lubricants if Possible

While further studies are needed to support this, you may want to avoid lubricants if you’re going to conceive. Most of them may be harmful to the sperm cells and may not be suitable if one has a low sperm count. If a lubricant is necessary, couples can consider using canola or baby oil.

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post.