Increasing sperm count can make it easier to conceive. Although the quality is as important as the quantity of sperm, men with a lower count will have a harder time conceiving simply because the odds are smaller. Sperm count can be increased dramatically by making a series of small changes in your everyday life and ensuring a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Step 1
Take a nutritional supplement and vitamin complex. L-Carnitine and antioxidants are especially helpful in improving the health of sperm and helping the count increase. Folic acid, selenium and zinc are also helpful in increasing sperm production.
Step 2
Get your body in shape. Losing weight, lowering your blood pressure, reducing the amount of alcohol intake and not smoking can all help to produce healthy sperm and increase your sperm count. Exercising to keep your body in shape also benefits your reproductive system. However, keep bicycling to a minimum, as the pressure put on the testicles can lead to a decrease in sperm production.
Step 3
Avoid stress. The more relaxed you are, the better your body can work to release hormones that stimulate sperm production. Stress-reducing exercise such as yoga, Pilates and tai chi are especially helpful, as they reduce stress and help you get in shape at the same time.
Step 4
Keep your body cool. Hot environments can lower sperm count and motility, so make sure the surroundings are cool and your underwear is not tight to prevent an increase of temperature in the scrotal area. Take cool showers often and stay away from hot tubs and saunas.
Step 5
Stay clear of most hormones. Unless needed for a medical condition, don't put hormones into your body. Steroids, anti-androgens and testosterone supplements all reduce sperm count. Gonadotropin injections, a hormonal treatment that affects the pituitary glands, significantly increases sperm count and can sometimes be used under medical supervision.
Step 6
Talk to your doctor about varicoceles, a condition in which a swollen vein located near the scrotum can lead to infertility or lower sperm count. If you're suffering from this condition, your doctor might recommend surgery to resolve the issue.
Step 7
Have your body checked for possible infections. Although there are no drugs that would directly treat lower sperm count, some drugs will treat infections or other conditions that may be causing the problem. Infections of the reproductive tract should be treated with antibiotics as early as possible to ensure that high sperm count can be restored.
