Sperm count is the most important fertility indicator in men. It is a simple, intuitive, and reliable marker of the ability of a man to generate a pregnancy. Fertility in the male has been in decline, and this can be considered an alarming trend. In the past four decades, the amount of sperm in a man’s ejaculate has gone down by 50 percent, which can have a huge effect on the fertility of males.
What Are The Causes Of Low Sperm Count?
Low sperm count is a condition where the number of sperms in semen, for a male individual, is below normal and can affect men at any age. It’s not a condition that you will recognise through obvious symptoms.
Causes of low sperm count include but are not limited to the following:
- Genetic mutations
- Exposure to chemicals
- Excessive heat
- Obesity
- Radiation exposure
What Influences A Man’s Sperm Quality?
However, extrinsic factors such as lifestyle conditions and some medical conditions may lower the quality of a man’s sperm.
At a glance, people who drink, smoke, or use drugs have lower sperm counts and less mobile sperm compared to people who don’t.
In reverse, however, some sexually transmitted infections may cause effects on the quality of the sperm.
Some of the genetic conditions in men result in abnormal development of their reproductive organs. Other serious health issues deal with problems related to the difficulty of fathering children.
Foods That Can Improve Sperm Quality
Some of these include the following foods that can improve sperm quality:
Oysters are a delicacy but they have high levels of zinc. This is important because zinc is essential for healthy sperm.
Fruits like bananas, blueberries, and strawberries are rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which can cause a lot of damage to the sperm cells.
A diet rich in vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach will provide the body with folic acid necessary in producing healthy sperm cells.
Lifestyle Modifications to Boost Sperm Health
While diet plays a large part in boosting sperm health, lifestyle changes alone can prove quite effective. Exercising regularly will also work wonders on swimmers. Aim for at least 30 minutes, moderate in intensity, most days of the week. In particular, swimming is great—it is a whole-body exercise without much sweating in that nether region. Speaking of heat, give up those tight trousers and wear loose, boxers that breathe. Your testicles will thank you! Do not forget your stress management via practicing yoga or meditation. Also, keep cortisol ramped down. It is through this holistic approach that you can increase your chances of fertility significantly.
Supplementing to Increase Sperm Quality
There are several supplements that target the enhancement of sperm quality. Some of the most well-liked and successful ones are zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3, coenzyme Q10, lycopene, and folic acid.
Zinc is another essential mineral in testosterone and sperm production. It’s also equally important for fertility in men since it promotes the production of hormones, which are needed for healthy sperm formation. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant capable of shielding the sperm against oxidative damage. Apart from reducing pivotal inflammatory changes within the reproductive tract in addition to increasing blood flow to the penis, Vitamin E is also an effective and potent antioxidant and may potentially protect sperm against oxidative harm. Omega-3s have shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects on the male reproductive organs, thus useful in optimizing male fertility by reducing inflammation.
How A Home Sperm Test Works
A home sperm test is a package you can purchase to determine if you may be potent enough to be a father. A home sperm test is easy to take, and it only takes minutes to get results.
The kit will instruct regarding the collection of the sperm sample and what to do with it.
The results for this test normally only take a few minutes; however they may vary based on the kind of test you have opted for.
In general, there are two types of tests available for purchase in the UK: those that will only detect the presence of sperm and those that will detect both the number and motility of your sperm.
Photo by Anthony Cunningham for Zoom Baby
This post first appeared in July 2018 and has been updated since
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