If you’ve been trying to have a baby and it’s just not happening, you might have a low sperm count. But don’t panic. It’s actually one of the most common causes of male infertility. You’ll have to see your doctor to be sure. But there may be things you can do to boost your count naturally. And they’re actually pretty simple.

While eating more carrots and walnuts can boost sperm health , the same cannot be said about bacon. Actually the opposite is true. A study presented at the american society for reproductive medicine’s 2013 annual meeting in boston revealed that various types of red meat — especially bacon — reduce male sperm count. Harvard university researchers surveyed 156 men with infertility concerns regarding their consumption of processed meat, red meat, white meat, poultry, and fish. Men who ate a half portion or more of processed meat a day had 5. 5 percent “normal” sperm compared to 7. 2 percent in men who ate less than half a portion each day. https://www.vigrxofficialstore.com/

There are always new articles popping up about what a woman can do to enhance her fertility potential. These enhancements run from the practical—eating healthy, exercising, having an ideal bmi —to the more superstitious—eating exotic fruits and nuts or standing on your head after sex. What’s often left out of this conversation, though, is what the male partner should be doing to prepare for conception. While the man will not be carrying the baby, male factor is the cause of infertility in 40 to 50 percent of couples and male infertility may arise if his sperm count is low or the sperm have mobility issues.

What is male infertility?

Fertility refers to people’s ability to reproduce without medical assistance. Male infertility is when a man has a poor chance of making his female partner pregnant. It usually depends on the quality of his sperm cells. Sometimes infertility is linked to sexual function, and other times it could be linked to semen quality. Here are some examples of each: libido. Otherwise known as sex drive, libido describes a person’s desire to have sex. Foods or supplements that claim to increase libido are called aphrodisiacs. Erectile dysfunction. Also known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is when a man is unable to develop or maintain an erection.

If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant , your doctor may recommend a sperm test (semen analysis). This is because around 1 in 3 cases of infertility are caused by problems with male fertility. Semen analysis involves giving a sample of semen to be tested in the lab for sperm count, size, shape and movement. A normal semen analysis result shows a sperm count of at least 15 million sperm per ml, with at least one third of sperm showing forward movement.

Motility and velocity determine how well the sperm swims to the egg. According to national infertility association resolve , at least 50% of sperm cells should be active for healthy sperm. The semen analysis will also rate the quality of movement from 0–4. A score of two or more is healthy. Previously, experts understood that a sperm’s movement was comparable to that of a snake. However, a suggests they instead move in a corkscrew fashion. This finding could help provide more effective treatments for male infertility.

3. Get enough vitamin C

Maintain a healthy weight. Excess fat can cause hormonal imbalance, which may affect sperm health. Eat right. Fresh, whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, have antioxidants and vitamins that help with fertility. Don’t skip the workout. Exercise is great for healthy sperm production. We recommend moderate physical activity for at least 150 minutes a week. Remember vitamins. Some vitamins — specifically d, c, e and coq10 — are important for healthy sperm. Get out of the hot tub. Sperm live and function best at a narrow temperature range (usually 2-3 degrees less than core body temperature). Too much heat can cause fertility problems.

From prenatal vitamins to apps that help mothers find the best time to make babies, the focus on fertility is often on the mother. In reality, the optimal act of conception is shared 50/50 by the mother and father. We know from research that when couples have difficulty with pregnancy 50% of causes come from the female and 50% from the male. Therefore, for a guy to truly be a “super dad” he needs to make sure he has super sperm. The ideal sperm are more likely to be found in males that have healthy lifestyles. So here are a few ways that dads who are planning to start a family can keep their sperm strong:.

Eating right and maintaining overall health will help your body function properly, including your reproductive system. Maintaining a healthy diet includes getting key nutrients such as folate, vitamin e, d, and c, zinc, and l-arginine. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily will ensure you are getting an adequate portion of vitamins and minerals needed. Taking a daily supplement can also provide added benefits. Not all supplements are beneficial for reproductive health, so be sure to consult with our donor coordinator if you have any questions about medications or supplements that you are taking.

Spending time outside has proven to be beneficial to sperm quantity and quality. Why? spending time in nature has been proven to decrease our cortisol (stress hormone) levels. It also allows you to soak up that vitamin d. Men with vitamin d deficiencies have been linked to low sperm counts, so head outside for a vitamin d boost.

Not keen on tomatoes? pink grapefruit also contains lycopene. "lycopene is a non-provitamin a carotenoid that is responsible for the red to pink colours seen in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and other foods," she explains.