If you and your partner are trying to conceive, making sure you're getting enough of the vitamins that impact your sperm count and motility can make the process easier. Talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements or if you're still having fertility problems after altering your diet and vitamin intake, as there might be an underlying issue affecting your sperm count that vitamins won't fix.
Vitamin B-12
B vitamins help your body process the food you eat into energy, help maintain your nervous system and encourage healthy hair and skin. Vitamin B-12 is particularly important for male fertility because it helps your body produce the DNA and RNA cells that carry your genetic information. B-12 might also help raise your sperm count and motility, though evidence for this link is minimal. Still, taking a B-complex supplement usually won't hurt, particularly if your diet lacks animal products which are the only dietary sources of B-12.
Vitamin D
Taking a vitamin D supplement can help improve the percentage of your motile sperm, improving your fertility. Getting vitamin D through supplementation is particularly important if you don't spend time in the sun or eat foods fortified with vitamin D. A 2011 study of 300 men by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital showed an increase in sperm motility in men with higher vitamin D levels.
Antioxidants
Vitamins C and E are important antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals in your body that cause cell damage. These vitamins also help you maintain a high sperm count and protect your sperm from damage. Vitamin E also helps improve your sperm's motility and getting enough of this vitamin can increase the chances that your sperm will be able to implant in your partner's egg. A daily multivitamin will help you meet your daily requirements for vitamins C and E or you can take a separate supplement for these vitamins if your doctor recommends it.
Considerations
Give vitamins time to work. Many vitamins and supplements take several weeks to build up in your body, and it may be three or four weeks before you see results. Other herbs and supplements might have a positive benefit on your fertility as well. Discussing your options with your doctor will help you choose the supplements that are best for you to increase your sperm count. For example, nutrients such as arginine and L-carnitine contribute to healthy sperm production and function. Ginseng can increase your testosterone levels and sperm count.
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