How to Improve Your Sperm Quality

Fertility problems are often blamed on the woman, but for half of infertile couples the problem is actually poor sperm quality. Here are some simple steps on how you can improve the quality of your sperm, and the likelihood of a successful IVF cycle.

For older men, the problem with sperm quality may not be visible in a a standard semen analysis, which tests for basic sperm count, motility and morphology (basically, how the sperm looks). But it’s quite possible that your sperm cells can be damaged on the inside even though it’s perfectly healthy on the outside. (Think of your sperm like little delivery trucks… the truck may be running fine, but the cargo is damaged or out-of-date.)

Before traveling to the clinic, older fathers who donate their sperm can undergo a sperm fragmentation test, which identifies potential problems with the chromosomes carried by sperm. Sperm fragmentation is also useful for men who have been exposed to lifestyle conditions that may have damaged their sperm quality. So if if you’ve lead a particularly “exuberant” young life, it may be worthwhile having your swimmers checked both inside and outside! This simple test has been around for years, and is done prior to the IVF procedure.

If you have doubts over the health of your sperm, below are some tips for boosting the sperm count, motility and morphology. However, improving these standard criteria may not improve the genetic quality of your sperm sample… to know for sure you will need a genetic test.
 

Tips to Improve Your Sperm Quality

If you think you have a problem with your sperm quality, check out this article for tests you can take to find out. We often recommend sperm fragmentation or karyotype analysis for couples who experience repeated failed IVF cycles or miscarriages.

Here are some practical tips from Mensxp.com

Eat Smart

Walnuts are recommended by doctors for people wanting to make their sperm stronger. Walnuts contain zinc, which improves the process of testosterone, and help get better sperm motility. Other recommended foods for zinc intake are bananas and almonds.

Oranges and strawberries help people get rid of sperm malfunctioning and shield the DNA from being damaged. Food rich in Vitamin E, like spinach, butter, etc also helps in improving the fertilization rate and boosting the sperm quality. The swimming sperm is particularly well boosted by a healthy Vitamin D intake. Junk food should be avoided at all costs.
 

Over the counter fertility supplements

Sperm donors can improve the quality of their sperm by taking some over-the-counter supplements. Researches found that men who consumed 5 mg of folic acid and 66 mg of zinc sulfate a day for 26 weeks experienced an almost 75 percent increase in sperm count. (Folic acid and zinc sulfate are critical in the formation of DNA.) Our Dallas clinic recommends vitamins C, E, CoQ10 as well as folic acid. Some studies specially recommend antioxidant supplements including Carnitine, which have shown positive effects on sperm motility and morphology.
 

Hit the Gym

Rigorous workout sessions can help enhance the testosterone levels, which benefits the sperm quality. SO, make sure working out becomes an essential part of your routine.
 

Quit Smoking – Active and Passive

Now this is something you have been repeatedly told, but paying no heed to this suggestion seems to be the most likely thing to do. Smoke has a damaging effect on the sperm DNA and triggers sperm abnormalities. And if you think passive smoking will not cause you any harm, you seriously need to get rid of your misconceptions. Going to bars where there is a lot of smoke coming from all directions may dwindle your chances of having baby.
 

Practice Safe Sex

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are some of the infections that have a direct bearing on your sperm count. These are sexually transmitted infections and the only way to prevent them from occurring is by practicing safe sex. So curb your urges and don’t have sex with every pretty lass that gets ready to jump into bed with you. And always use condom.
 

Avoid Heating Your Scrotum

How you love to lie down on your bed and keep your laptop on our lap, while leisurely surfing the Internet or watching a movie. What it does is that it transfers heat directly on the scrotum, and that’s the last thing you would want if you want a stronger sperm. Even sitting on a heated car seat is not advisable.

Apart from these factors, you must take care that you don’t take on too much stress and indulge in plenty of exercise.