Fertility-related health conditions are more common than you think. Owing to one or the other reasons, one in every six aspiring couples are affected by infertility, and among these, infertility is due to male fertility problems in at least one in every three couples.
Infertility can be due to sexual dysfunction, decreased sperm count, or problems related to semen quality. When it comes to male fertility health and conception, men do age and these are the times when they start looking for the query of how to increase sperm count?
The male body comprises many mysteries, and sperm is an important part of it. Sure we know it plays an imperative role in love-making but sperm also contributes to a significant role in the baby-making process. But, what do you know about your sperm count and sperm health, and do you know enough?
Infertility and sperm count
Infertility is a condition that almost one in every five couples experience. Among 45% of couples who experience infertility, the male partner is held responsible for more than one factor. Male infertility immensely depends on sperm production and transfer. Healthy sperm exterminates the chances of deformed sperm and hence cause the male partner to be more fertile.
The prominent reasons that contribute to male infertility are low sperm count, blockage and deformed sperm. Oligospermia is a common condition of male’s reproductive health in which there is a production of low amounts of sperm cells.
Studies say that healthy men have around 100 million sperm cells. A high sperm count eliminates the likelihood of disorders in conception. A high sperm count enhances the chances of a successful conception that results in a healthy pregnancy. Hence it is important to look for different methods and ways to increase the sperm count, for a healthy reproductive and fertile life.
What is the importance of sperm count?
For couples trying to conceive naturally, a healthy sperm count plays a vital role. Even though it only requires one healthy sperm and one egg for conception, a great number of healthy sperm will boost the chances of pregnancy in each attempt.
Research studies have even shown that men who are not planning to conceive need to keep their sperm health intact for the betterment of their overall health. Studies have shown that men with low sperm are at higher risk of having higher BMI and high blood pressure. High blood pressure and such medical conditions can lead to diseases like cardiac arrest or stroke. Doctors thus recommend men with low sperm have a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet regime to improve their sperm count.
Does sperm count affect fertility?
Sperm count does affect fertility because with lower levels of sperm count, your chances of impregnating your partner decrease. Problems with the quality and quantity of sperm can also affect your chances of helping your partner get pregnant.
Low sperm count becomes a common reason for male-related infertility. And it can significantly affect your chances of getting pregnant or helping a woman to conceive. But couples may also experience other health conditions that can affect fertility. In some cases, couples may experience infertility due to female factors, like:
- low ovarian reserve
- a blocked fallopian tube
- ovarian disorders
- endometriosis
Failure in pregnancy can also be the result of not trying to conceive for long enough. If you have surpassed the age of 35 years or more, and you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant for six months or more, your doctor may refer you to an infertility specialist.
Also read: Does Sperm Quality Affect your IVF Success?
How to increase sperm count? – diagnosis and treatment
When couples visit a fertility centre when they fail to conceive, infertility specialists usually recommend couples to undergo certain fertility tests to examine the root cause of fertility including diagnosis for low sperm count in men. Even with the diagnosis of low sperm count, doctors examine and ask for male partners’ prolonged illnesses, surgeries, chronic health issues, genital diseases and other conditions.
Semen Analysis Test
A low sperm count is diagnosis is done as part of a semen analysis examination. Sperm count is generally diagnosed by screening semen under a microscope to observe how many sperm are present within squares on a grid outline.
Semen samples can be performed on a couple in different methods. The male partner is asked to provide a semen sample by masturbating and ejaculating into a specialized container at the fertility clinic. In some cases, men sometimes also choose to collect the semen in a special condom during sexual intercourse. Proper sperm or semen collection is important as failure to do so might result as a major cause of low sperm count analysis.
Normal sperm densities range between 15 million and higher than 200 million sperm per millilitre of semen. The male partner is considered to have low sperm count levels when there are fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre or less than 25-35 million sperm total per ejaculate.
Apart from low sperm count, many times infertility can be due to some other underlying factors as well including the cause of infertility, age and duration of infertility. There have been instances observed by fertility experts wherein they noticed that men with low sperm count were able to impregnate their female partners and there were men with normal sperm count levels who failed to help their partners conceive successfully.
Depending on the medical condition of the male partners, infertility specialists recommend patients undergo certain fertility tests for an accurate diagnosis of infertility. Some of the fertility tests recommended for infertile patients are:
- Hormone testing and examination
- Genetic testing and analysis
- Scrotal ultrasound monitoring
- Specialized sperm functioning tests
- Post-ejaculation urinalysis
Low sperm count treatment:
Based on the results of the above-mentioned tests and physical examination, the right and effective treatments are suggested to the patients by fertility specialists. Here are some of the treatments that are recommended to patients with low sperm count:
Surgical procedures:
To treat conditions like obstructed vas deferens or varicocele, surgical treatments are offered to people. Surgical treatments help male partners with the absence of sperm in the ejaculate and other conditions.
Antibiotics treatment:
Although antibiotics cannot help in the restoration of fertility or related issues, these can help in cases where some reproductive tract disorders or infections.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures:
In many cases related to low sperm count and other fertility problems, infertility treatments like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and other ART procedures are used to treat infertility related issues.
Hormone treatments and medications:
Infertility specialists sometimes recommend hormone replacement therapies or medications in cases. Where the cause of infertility is related to high or low or fluctuating levels of hormones or problems with the way the body produces hormones.
A male partner’s fertility health has a vital role to play in defining a couple’s ability to achieve their parenthood goals. Sperm count and sperm health have long been heralded as a keen factor affecting a woman’s chances of becoming a mother and her ability to conceive. If you are also looking for effective methods and ways to boost sperm count or increase sperm motility, look out for these imperative methods and ways to help you improve sperm count and fertility health.
Sperm count is considered to be low when it ranges between 15 and 20 million sperm per millilitre. For a healthy pregnancy to occur, the semen should contain 50 to 350 million sperm per millilitre.
Wondering how to achieve this score? Sperm quality is one of the prominent factors that affect fertility. Like any other organ in the human body, fertility health also relies on the nutrients and vitamins supplied to the reproductive system.
Foods can also affect the reproductive health of a person in many ways. It can boost the production of testosterone, thereby enhancing sperm count as well as sperm motility and quality. The main issue is that people only search for ways to how to increase sperm count and don’t work on it. Follow these effective steps and methods to increase male fertility.
Also read: 10 Foods that Increase Sperm Count
Imperative methods to know how to increase sperm count
1. Weight changes may lead to a fall in sperm count
A rapid increase or decrease in weight in men has been connected with low levels of testosterone hormone, affected sperm quality, and decreased fertility as compared to men of normal weight. The odds of affected fertility health increase by 10%-15% for every 9 kg (20 pounds) a man is over or underweight.
Being underweight can also affect a man’s semen quality and therefore his overall fertility health. Being overweight or obese can lead to certain hormonal changes that affect fertility and make men less interested in sex. Men who are under or overweight are also more likely to experience problems getting and keeping an erection. Thus, it is imperative to focus on weight management to increase sperm motility.
2. Get enough sleep and exercise regularly
It has been reported in several research studies that not getting enough sleep can affect men’s sperm health and thereby affecting their fertility health. Men with poorer sleeping habits were reported to have lower sperm counts and poorly formed sperm as compared with men who had better sleeping habits.
According to scientists, going regular exercise may improve men’s sperm count and fertility health. Men who are involved in fitness routines and running had more “healthy swimmers”.
Sedentary and stressful lifestyles may lead to decreased sperm motility and affected male fertility health.
3. Stress and anxiety do affect sperm quality
Stress in males may cause the release of steroid hormones like glucocorticoids, which can decline testosterone levels as well as sperm production. Oxidative stress is another prospect and has been found to negatively affect fertility health and sperm quality.
Men with high levels of stress are more likely to have decreased concentrations of sperm in their semen, and the sperm they have are more likely to be deformed or have impaired motility.
Men with the highest anxiety levels are also more likely to have sperm that were less immotile or less mobile.
4. Vitamin C boosts sperm count
Vitamins C and E are vital antioxidants that safeguard the body’s cells from damage from oxidative stress hormones and free radicals. Vitamin C is one of the most plentiful antioxidants in the semen of fertile men. It contributes to the safeguarding of healthy sperm by shielding the sperm’s DNA from free radical damage.
Fertility vitamins and supplements such as Vitamin C and others can help to increase sperm volume and semen quality thereby enhancing overall male fertility.
5. Get enough fenugreek supplements
Apart from enhancing sexual performance by improving the secretions of testosterone hormone, fenugreek supplements do wonders for enhancing sperm count and male fertility. Studies have shown that men consuming fenugreek supplements experienced increased libido, improved sperm quality, fat loss, and enhanced testosterone. Studies have shown men who had added fenugreek supplements in their routine witnessed improved sperm count and enhanced semen quality.
6. Ashwagandha boosts testosterone levels
Ashwagandha helps fighting infertility and reducing anxiety and stress in men. It is a natural herb that helps men regulate hormone levels and making their cells improved and healthier. Apart from improving fertility health, ashwagandha also boosts sperm count and fertility health in men. This natural herb is also considered best for treating infertility as it helps to deal with erectile dysfunction in men. If you want to improve your fertility health and maintain healthy levels of testosterone hormone. Consider taking ashwagandha herb to improve your fertility health.
7. Quit smoking and alcohol
Smoking and consuming alcohol can negatively impact fertility in men as it decreases sperm count and semen quality. It has also been observed that men with regular smoking and drinking habits experience problems getting and maintaining erections. Some scientists have found that people with moderate or heavy amounts of tobacco consumption had a decreased sperm quality than people with reduced consumption of tobacco. Apart from this, excessive consumption of alcohol or alcoholic drinks, cocaine, and marijuana can also lead to a notable decrease in male sperm count.
8. Maca roots increase sperm counts
For men looking for natural herbs or natural ways to improve their fertility health and sperm count should consume Maca roots as these herbs are helpful in increasing the volume of semen and enhancing sperm motility.
9. Dark chocolate contribute to higher sperm counts
Dark chocolate has a myriad of benefits to offer and it works better for men than women. It works great as an anti-depressant and apart from that, it is full of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants that contribute to a higher volume of sperm and improved sperm counts.
10. Pumpkin seeds improve testosterone production
There are many food options that help men improve their sperm count and fertility health. Studies have shown that pumpkin seeds are helpful in improving the production of testosterone hormone thereby affecting the reproductive and fertility health of men. By affecting the production of testosterone hormone, sperm counts in men also rise.
Read more: 9 Ways to Boost Male Fertility & Increase Sperm Count
Tips for getting pregnant with low sperm count
If you or your partner have been troubled by low sperm count issues, then here are some tips you must follow:
- Keep trying: When you visit the doctor, the first suggestion they will give you is to get pregnant naturally. Keep trying. Understand the menstrual cycle and identify the fertile window for conception. Know the most fertile days and have intercourse in 2 or 3 days, moderate alcohol consumption; and stop smoking.
- Avoid Heat: Heat is bad for people with low sperm counts. Avoid hot baths, saunas, and fitting underwear, and avoid working on laptops while keeping them on your laps.
- Manage stress: Stress can impact sperm production and fertility. Try to manage your stress with stress-reducing techniques like yoga and medication.
- Healthy Lifestyle choices: If the sperm is slightly low, then it can be improved with healthy lifestyle choices and changes. Eat a balanced and nutritious diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and quit smoking. Try to keep your weight in control through regular exercise.
- IVF: The second-best option you can look for is IVF. If you or your partner has low sperm count issues and you have been trying for a long time (more than 2 years), then you must consult an IVF specialist. IVF is the process in which the egg is fertilized with sperm in the laboratory, and then the fertilized egg is placed in the woman’s womb to grow and develop.
- Try ICSI: Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is just like IVF. If you and your partner are struggling with low sperm count or poor sperm quality, then ICSI may work best for you. Consult with an expert for the best guidance based on your medical and sexual history.
- Donor insemination: If the partner has any genetic disorder that could be passed through to the child, then you must consider this option. This is the method you and your partner can get pregnant by using sperm from a donor. You can consider this option if you don’t want to undergo the ICSI or IVF process.
Key Takeaways
For dads-to-be, it is important to realize the importance of health and how making small changes in routine life can help improve their fertility health. Just don’t search how to increase sperm count? work on it as well. Adopt a healthy fitness regime and modify your sleeping patterns and avoid consumption of alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco to improve and enhance your fertility health. For queries or concerns related to male or female fertility health, connect with fertility experts at +91 893 893 5353 for instant guidance and support.
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