Male Fertility Tips

General Male Fertility Tips

Try Acupuncture- There are numerous studies showing the benefits on sperm count, motility, and morphology. Usually going for regular sessions 3-4 months before trying to conceive is best. Around 70 days is the time it takes to make new sperm and mature them to be ready to ejaculate. Chinese Herbs can also be used to enhance male fertility, but do not try to diagnose and prescribe them yourself. Go to a trained acupuncturist, or herbalist for assistance. Not all acupuncturists have herbal training.
Butt out. While smoking doesn't reduce a man's sperm count, it does damage sperm DNA, which can lead to birth defects in children. Because it takes three months for sperm to fully form, it is crucial to stop smoking at least three months prior to trying to conceive.
Enjoy some sun. Being in the sun has been linked to increased levels of testosterone, which in turn affects the production of healthy sperm. Sunshine has also been linked to lower production levels of melatonin, which is known to reduce male fertility. If it is winter time, a medium intensity tanning bed with UVB rays can help to produce a similar result. Only tan once/week and do not exceed 20-25 minutes in medium intensity bed. Don’t use high intensity UVA beds.
Don't try too hard. Ejaculating more than twice a day can be harmful to male fertility. This is because it takes time for sperm levels to rise again after ejaculation has occurred. However, while you shouldn't overdo it, it is also important to have intercourse with your partner on a regular basis in order to improve your chances of getting pregnant, as sperm that is not ejaculated becomes old and therefore less fertile. Ejaculate 2-3 days before your partner is in the fertile zone. Then have intercourse every other day 2-3 times during her most fertile time of her menstrual cycle.
Watch your weight. A body mass index (BMI) of less than 20 can lead to male infertility, while any BMI above 25 can reduce a man's sperm count by 22%. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. This means that maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to increasing male fertility. A healthy diet combined with regular exercise is the best way to achieve this goal. Foods rich in antioxidants are particularly important for a man's sexual reproductive health: foods rich in vitamin A (such as cheese), in vitamin C (citrus fruits) and in vitamin E (sunflower seeds) are particularly important, as are foods rich in zinc (oysters) and folic acid (broccoli). These foods are so crucial to male fertility enhancement because they help to repair damage done to the sperm of a man's DNA. Exercise helps to reduce stress, which has been linked to fertility problems in both men and women
Pass on that second beer. Alcohol and male fertility do not go together. Excessive drinking is a major cause of impotence. Reducing your consumption of alcohol is an excellent way to improve your sperm health.
Go herbal. Green tea and gingko have been linked to male fertility enhancement. The benefits of green tea are numerous. Green tea boosts overall energy and health, while gingko increases circulation to the capillaries, resulting in improved sexual energy as well as improved sexual performance.
Don't do drugs. Drugs have an extremely detrimental effect on male fertility. For example, marijuana lowers a man's sperm count as well as his seminal fluid, while increasing the number of abnormal sperm that he produces.
Avoid heat. Prolonged or repeated exposure of the testicles can have a negative effect on the production of sperm. Avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear or pants, as well as taking hot baths. It is also advised not to place a laptop on your actual lap for long periods of time. Also, there have been studies showing that carrying your cell phone in your front pocket can have negative effects on sperm. Especially the smart phones with WiFi. Use a belt carrying case or put it somewhere else like your briefcase, shirt pocket, etc.
Relax. Fifteen percent of men have a lowered sex drive due to stress, while 5% of men have sexual impotence due to the same cause. Regular exercise can help alleviate stress since it helps to boost the immune system while improving circulation.
Stay Hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Eight 8 oz. glasses of filtered tap water is a good amount for most average people. If you sweat when you are working or exercise intensely for long periods of time, you will need more water. You can also drink Smart Water, or Whole Foods Brand (Electrolyte Water) to supplement with Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium.
Limit your caffeine intake- A recent study of coffee drinking men in Brazil shows that moderate caffeine does not adversely affect sperm health. However, there are plenty of nutritionists who advocate cutting caffeine whilst trying to conceive. Excessive caffeine, even where the woman does not drink coffee, can cause miscarriages, low birth weight etc. In moderation, coffee does not need to go entirely from your diet. Perhaps you can switch to caffeine free coffee to week days, and reward yourself with an indulgent freshly brewed coffee at the weekends!

Rest Well- Sleep is essential for good sperm health and it helps replenish testosterone.

Minimize your exposure to chemicals- Ensure that you are not exposed to harmful chemicals such as weed killers, pesticides and other readily available household chemicals. Consider reducing your exposure to chemicals to as low as possible. Wear gloves, carbon-filtered masks, chemical protective coveralls, if you work with chemicals on a daily basis. ie.: a painter, construction worker, factory worker, etc. Also consider things like new carpet in your home or office. It takes as long as six months for new carpet chemical to leech out to an acceptably low level for safe sperm production.

Beware of Dry Cleaning Chemicals- There have been numerous studies done on dry cleaning chemicals and the detrimental effects they have on fertility. If you take your clothes to be dry cleaned, take them out of the plastic bags and hang them up somewhere that gets fresh air for 5-7 days before wearing those garments. It is best to avoid dry cleaning all together for 3-4 months before trying to get pregnant.

Beneficial Supplements:

L-Carnitine and L-Arginine- 1000 mg/day each has been clinically shown to improve sperm count, motility, and morphology

Multivitamin- make sure to get either a liquid source or a whole food source vitamin. I like Nature’s Way vitamins. They have a line called Alive.

15mg of zinc for sperm production, this is often taken with 1mg of copper, 200mcg of selenium to improve sperm quality and testosterone, 30mg of Coenzyme Q10 which increases sperm count and motility, 400iu of vitamin E which helps with sperm motility and ability to penetrate egg, 1000mg of Vitamin C which stops sperm from clumping, 100mg each of Vitamin B complex (especially Vitamin B12) which helps sperm count and motility; folic acid Check your multivitamin to see what quantities of these vitamins are already in there.

Omega 3, 6 and 9- a good fish oil with ALA, EPA and DHA

Maca- Some men also swear by the efficacy of taking 500mg of the Peruvian herb Maca. In clinical trials, subjects taking a derivative of the Peruvian Andes herb maca called gelatinized maca reported increase sexual desire of 180% and sperm count increase of 200%.