According to doctors, almost 90% of all cases of male infertility are due to a low sperm count. A healthy man produces about 80 to 300 million sperm per ejaculation and a low sperm count decreases the chances of a sperm getting through to fertilize the egg. In many cases, all that is required for increasing sperm count and maintaining sperm quality is a healthy diet which provides the body with enough material to manufacture sperm in adequate amounts.
The causes of a lowered sperm count include infected semen, infections in the prostate gland, obesity, frequent ejaculation, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical and mental stress, physical over-exertion, zinc deficiency, malformed genital organs and excessive use of anabolic steroids.
Just because you have a low sperm count doesn’t mean that you cannot get your wife or partner to conceive. There are many ways including natural home remedies to increase your sperm count as well as improve its quality.
The first step for males to get a good quality and quantity of sperms is to eat right. This means that males have to reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Too much or too little body fat can disrupt the production of male reproductive hormones including gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone. These hormones have a direct bearing on a man’s sex drive and the number of sperm produced. So remember, being too skinny is as bad as being overweight where your sperm count is concerned.
Along with eating healthy, living healthy is also essential. Regular exercise will help you to keep fit but it should not be overdone. Too much exertion on a regular basis can lead to a disruption in sperm production.
Learn to manage stress more effectively as it can also lead to a disruption in the production of hormones. To this end massage, aromatherapy, meditation and yoga can all be very effective in helping you deal with stress.
Avoid wearing tight underwear and sitting for prolonged periods of time. Keeping your laptop directly on your lap is also inadvisable as the heat generated can affect sperm production. Remember, heat increases scrotal temperatures and reduces sperm count, so avoid hot tubs, hot baths, saunas and the like.
Other lifestyle changes that will help in increasing your sperm count include quitting smoking tobacco and marijuana and drinking. Heavy use of these substances has been linked to DNA damage which may result in abnormal fetal development and an increased risk of cancer for your child.
Avoid taking anabolic steroids, testosterone-based supplements and anti-androgen drugs. The latter are usually used to treat prostate enlargement, prostate cancer and baldness.
Avoid taking cimetidine (Tagamet) as it has been linked to lowered sperm counts.
Avoid large amounts of coffee as it can lead to a decrease in sperm motility.
Foods to increase sperm count include foods that are naturally rich in folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, selenium and zinc. Folic acid, selenium and zinc are required for the production of sperm and help to thicken sperm naturally. Vitamins C and E help to protect the sperm from damage and infection. Vitamin A can help to increase sperm motility. Most of these nutrients can be found in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains which should form a large proportion of the diet. Animal fats in the diet should be replaced with monounsaturated oils. If you are trying to lose weight then you should have a low calorie diet.
If you feel that you are not getting enough of the nutrients mentioned above in your diet, consider taking a multivitamin and multi-mineral supplement.
It is best to consult your doctor before implementing any of these dietary changes in case you require any special dietary consideration.
Reference
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.