Having a baby seems like it should be the easiest thing in the world, but many couples find it difficult to conceive. Part of the problem may be sperm count. Even if you have had children before, your sperm count can decrease over time. A semen analysis done by a fertility specialist can determine not just your sperm count (sperm concentration) but also how well your sperm swim (motility) and what percentage of sperm look normal (morphology). In the meantime, there are things you can do to improve or maintain the count and quality of your sperm.
Steps to Increase Fertility
Step 1
Get a medical check-up to make sure your general health is good. If you are obese, your reproductive hormones can be negatively affected, which, in turn, can decrease sperm production. Make sure health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid disorders, are diagnosed and treated. If you are taking heart or blood pressure medications, have your physician or pharmacist check whether your medications affect male fertility. Sperm-friendly medications can often be substituted. Take a multivitamin, but avoid excessive doses of vitamins or special herbal extracts that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Step 2
Live a sperm-friendly life style. Don't use anabolic steroids to "bulk up" at the gym. These have been shown to decrease sperm count and shrink testicular size. Don't use tobacco, marijuana, cocaine or excessive alcohol, all known negatives for sperm quality. Avoid hot tubs or wearing tight underwear, because excessive heat around your testicles also decreases count. Your testicles hang outside your body because they function better at slightly cooler temperatures than 98.6 degrees.
Step 3
Protect your fertility at work. Exposure to extremely high heat; organic solvents; heavy metals, such as lead, mercury or cadmium; radiation; and pesticides have all been shown to decrease sperm count. Don't be macho on the job. Use all the protective equipment that you are issued to be safe in your work environment.
Step 4
Reduce stress at home and at work as much as possible. Don't try to "save up" sperm. Having intercourse or masturbating every two or three days is ideal for optimizing sperm count. If you are already in fertility treatment, you know how stressful that can be. Take time to keep your relationship good. Enjoy each other and remember why you want to have a baby with your partner in the first place.
Step 5
Don't despair if your count is still low. Sometimes there are genetic reasons for a low sperm count, and there is nothing you can do to increase your count to fertile levels. The good news: With the use of assisted reproductive technology and sperm injection techniques, even men with exceedingly low sperm counts can help conceive a child.
Tips and Warnings
- If you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant without success for a year, it could be time to see a fertility specialist for a complete diagnostic work-up and treatment plan. Make a couple's appointment with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist specializing in infertility. If necessary, she should be able to refer you to a board-certified urologist specializing in male infertility.
- Do not change your medications or start a new diet or exercise regime without consulting your physician to make sure these changes are safe for you.
