Problems related to sperm are common causes of infertility. About half of all couples experiencing infertility have some type of male factor issue, according to the Mayo Clinic. While severe male factor issues will need medical intervention, lifestyle changes and medication adjustments can help men with borderline sperm counts or motility become more fertile. It doesn't take a lot of effort to evaluate your everyday behaviors for things that can negatively affect sperm.
Don'ts
Step 1
Toss the anabolic steroids in the trash. Anabolic steroids, which suppress testosterone production, a male hormone essential for sperm creation, can result in a severely decreased sperm count, or a total absence of sperm.
Step 2
Stub it out. Don't smoke cigarettes or marijuana. Both can decrease sperm counts and increase the number of abnormal sperm, and marijuana can decrease the amount of seminal fluid produced.
Step 3
Pour the alcohol down the sink. Don't drink alcohol in large quantities. Heavy drinking can cause impotence, decrease testosterone and increase the number of abnormally shaped sperm.
Step 4
Keep the boys cool. Don't hold your laptop directly on your lap, wear tight underwear or hang out in hot tubs. Anything that increases heat in the testicle area raises the temperature and can cause low sperm counts.
Step 5
Hang up the phone. A recent study reported by the Cleveland Clinic found that men who spend more than four hours a day on the cell phone have lower sperm counts, poorer motility and more abnormal sperm.
Do's
Step 1
Maintain a healthy weight. Men who are overweight can have a 25-fold reduction in their sperm counts, according to a study reported at the American Society for Reproductive Disorders 2003 meeting. This could be related to increased temperature in the testes. Overweight men also have more sperm with fragmented DNA, which are more likely to result in miscarriage.
Step 2
Review your medications with your doctor. Certain high blood pressure medications and drugs for depression can decrease sperm counts. Make sure your doctor knows that getting pregnant is a priority so he can prescribe medications that affect sperm the least.
Step 3
Wear protective gear if you work around chemicals. Using pesticides, inhalants and chemical compounds can damage sperm. Always wear protective gear and wash thoroughly after any chemical exposure.
Step 4
Have sex, but not every day. Having sex too often can decrease sperm counts simply because sperm needs time to regenerate. Have sex no more than every other day, even when trying to conceive; sperm live two to three days so there will be sperm waiting at the time of ovulation.
Tips and Warnings
- Be patient. Sperm problems aren't corrected overnight; it takes about three months for new sperm to be created.
- Never stop medications without speaking to your doctor first.
