Think you may be running low at the sperm bank? It can, and does happen. Conceiving isn’t only up to a woman, a man has to prepare himself too. Check out 5 ways men can increase their sperm count:
1. Stop Drinking
Yes, take your last sip now. Well, at least until you’ve successfully conceived. For those who can’t seem to put the bottle down, habitual alcohol consumption can damage the quality, structure, and movement of sperm by preventing the liver from properly metabolizing vitamin A, which is required for sperm development.
In addition, scientific studies have reported that alcohol can cause problems for the testes. If you have a drink or two in moderation, it won’t completely take away your chances for conceiving, but it is advised to cut down and avoid binge or habitual drinking to increase your chances of conceiving.
2. Eliminate Tobacco
Smoking can affect more than just your lungs, it can impact your
sperm quality and it can damage the DNA too. The number, movement, and shape of sperm may all be worse in smokers than non-smokers–this is likely to make it harder for an egg to be fertilized. If you’re a smoker, make sure to reduce the number of cigarettes per day or don’t smoke at all if you want to improve your fertility.
3. Toss Out The Tight Underwear
Did you know your testicles can overheat? When advising on factors that might be hindering a man’s fertility, it is found that the potential for overheating the testes is the most overlooked. Tight clothing around a man’s testicles can increase the temperature in the region but even small increases can cause problems for sperm quality, as the ideal temperature for sperm production is about 1-2°C lower than body temperature.
The sperm count and shape are most affected by heat exposure. So, it is advised to wear loose boxer shorts as opposed to tight underwear to encourage the best sperm quality. The same applies to any form of heat around the testes, so having your laptop on your lap, sitting at a desk for a long period of time, even a sauna or hot tub should be avoided.
4. Drink Tea!
Yes, teas or drinks that have lemon in them speed up the liver’s removal of oestrogen, which is a hormone that many men may not know they have, as it’s typically associated with female fertility. In men, if levels of oestrogen are excessive it can cause problems for fertility.
To provide an added fertility boost incorporate a lemony drink into your morning routine. Try half a lemon squeezed in hot water as soon as you wake up. Similarly, ginseng tea has been reported to
enhance sperm motility. Sperm needs to be able to travel past the cervix and into the uterus in order to fertilize the egg, so motile sperm are crucial to male fertility.
5. Watch Your Weights
If men exercise too much, with little rest, it can have a direct impact on sperm count, shape, and motility. Exercising is definitely beneficial for both mental and physical wellbeing, but if you overdo it when trying to conceive you can have lower quality sperm. Not to mention, excessive exercise can lower a man’s testosterone levels and cellular damage can occur as a result of increased oxidative stress. Therefore, stick to moderate weight resistance and cardiovascular exercises.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
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