You and your partner have decided you want to try to have a baby. Did you know there are things you can do to help boost your fertility? After all, male infertility isn’t only erectile dysfunction. “Most men think that, and that is incorrect,” says Dr. Chris Sipe of Fertility Centers of Illinois. “Another common misconception is that the ejaculate will always have sperm when there is liquid. Seminal fluid comes from the prostate and other male structures. There can be plenty of liquid in the semen, but no sperm present. A simple seminal fluid analysis can help investigate a man’s ability to father a child,” he says.
While you might be well versed on how to practice safe sex, now that you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, you may find yourself at a loss when it comes to strategies to boost your fertility. Here are five ways you can do so:
Take supplements
Your partner’s been taking folic acid and you might want to take some, too. A study conducted by researchers at the University of California found that men whose diet was low in folic acid had a higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm. Coenzyme Q10 has also been found to increase sperm count and sperm motility, while Vitamin E also improves low sperm count.
Quit your smoking habit
You know you should quit, and now here’s some extra incentive to butt out: Studies show that smoking increases male infertility chances by 30 percent. Furthermore, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has estimated that up to 13 percent of infertility may be caused by tobacco use; as few as five cigarettes per day has been associated with lower fertility rates.
Cut down on your laptop and mobile phone use
It’s the heat emitted from your favourite tech tools that can cause the quality of your semen to deteriorate. Avoid long periods with your computer on your lap or your cell phone in your pockets. Extreme exposure to these (and even hot tubs) may lead to unhealthy declines in quality.
Shed some weight
The extra weight you’re carrying around can affect your levels of estrogen and testosterone, which can cause a decrease in sperm count. Also, your libido may be negatively affected, too. Look to getting your BMI into the healthy range to help balance both your hormone levels and sex drive.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Your steady diet of fast food is not helping your baby-making odds. A high-fat diet has been shown to be linked to a lower sperm count. Work on adapting your diet to one heavy in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
Take note: While alcohol, tobacco, drug use, obesity, and pre-existing health problems can reduce fertility in men, Dr. Sipe advises first having a semen analysis conducted to identify if there a problem, then modifying one’s habits and behaviors. Also, know that “It takes around 90 days to create and mature a sperm, so any changes made will have an effect at least three months later,” he adds.
