Sperm issues – developing healthy lifestyle habits
**Sperm Issues**
>
> ------ **Develop healthy lifestyle habits**
You might think that natural evolution has given humans a simple, effective, and foolproof way to get pregnant.
But the reality is not necessarily like that; take a look at these figures below.
From puberty until old age, a man's testicles produce about 50,000 sperm per day, and a normal ejaculation releases about 200 million sperm, which is enough for conception.
However, once inside a woman's vagina, only 400 sperm can reach the vicinity of the egg, and of these 400 sperm, only 1 has a 15% chance of successfully fertilizing the egg in a specific month.
Looking at these numbers, we might think that human pregnancy is nothing short of a miracle. But there are some minor issues that make these numbers even more astonishing, and one of the painful realities faced by some couples is infertility.
If you and your sexual partner have been living together without using any protection for more than 6 months and the woman still has not become pregnant, then you have encountered what doctors call infertility.
If the problem lies entirely or partially with you, here are three factors to consider: the number of sperm in your ejaculate (sperm count); the shape of your sperm (sperm morphology); and the ability of your sperm to swim quickly and orderly toward their target (sperm motility).
Every man's sperm count varies from month to month, and every man has many abnormal or non-monomodulating sperm. In fact, if 60% of your sperm are normal in all aspects, that's already very good.
**Born for procreation**
A large part of what determines your fertility is beyond your control; it's determined by genetics. However, there are ways to help improve your sperm quality.
**Latest Information**
>
• Commonality: Between 2 and 3 million American men have been diagnosed with some form of sperm problem.
>
Risk factors: testicular trauma, poor health habits, and genetics.
>
> • Affected age group: Although men can reproduce until old age, fertility begins to decline gradually from around age 40.
>
> Gender differences: Approximately 15% of couples have fertility problems, with the problem being entirely or partially attributable to the man in 50% of cases.
>
Seeking help from: urologists specializing in male infertility.
**Finding the Cause of Infertility** Dr. Hugh Stewartberg, a male infertility specialist at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingstone, New Jersey, says that a quick self-test can help you determine if you have varicocele, the leading cause of male infertility.
Varicocele refers to an enlarged blood vessel in the seminal vesicle that obstructs blood flow and raises the temperature of the testicles to a level sufficient to kill sperm.
When checking for varicocele, stand up, preferably right after a shower, when your testicles are warm and relaxed.
Due to the distribution of veins within the testicle, varicocele occurs far more frequently on the left side than on the right.
Dr. Mark Goldstein, director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Microsurgery at New York Hospital Rehabilitation Center in New York and professor of urology, says to feel inside the scrotum above the testicles and look for a soft, pasty "bag full of soft-bodied worms."
Straining downwards, similar to defecating, will make varicose veins bulge out, making them easier to spot.
If you discover you have varicocele, don't panic. Dr. Stuhlberg says that a minor surgery at a hospital or clinic can resolve the issue.
**Keep the testicles relaxed and hanging down to lower their temperature** One reason why the testicles hang freely out of the male body is that they must be kept at a temperature 4 degrees Celsius lower than body temperature in order to produce sperm.
Dr. Goldstein suggests the following ways to avoid overheating of the testicles: avoid prolonged hot baths, wear loose underwear and trousers, and, if you are obese, lose weight so that your testicles are not covered by fat.
**Pay attention to your diet** Although there are no conclusive research results to support this, many doctors believe that men can improve sperm quality by consuming certain vitamins.
Dr. Larry Lipschultz, a professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, emphasized the importance of adequate intake of vitamins C and E, as well as beta-carotene, because they act as "scavengers" of oxidants, which are naturally occurring toxic substances that can kill sperm.
Dr. Goldstein also recommends consuming inorganic zinc, which is beneficial for the prostate gland, which produces semen.
The best way to get these nutrients that help protect sperm is to eat at least two kinds of fruit and three kinds of vegetables every day.
Dr. Goldstein also recommends taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement containing at least 20 vitamins.
Relaxing the mind and body is another common-sense piece of advice many doctors give their patients: effectively managing stress, including engaging in moderate-intensity exercise.
"Stress can affect the entire body," says Dr. Goldstein, "so it's not surprising that stress is also a contributing factor to infertility."
Quit smoking immediately. Dr. Mokley Sibel, medical director of the Faulkner Fertility Center in Boston, says that nicotine can reduce sperm count, damage sperm morphology, and decrease sperm motility.
The study also showed that sperm from male smokers are less likely to penetrate an egg than sperm from non-smokers; and pregnancies resulting from intercourse with a smoking man are more likely to result in miscarriage.
Furthermore, the damage smoking causes to sperm chromosomes can increase the risk of birth defects or cancer in children.
**Taking Vitamin C** If you are trying to quit smoking but haven't succeeded yet, you might consider taking some vitamin C.
A study conducted by the Department of Medicine at the University of Texas at Galveston compared the sperm of smokers who took vitamin C with those who did not. The results showed that the former not only had 34% more sperm than the latter, but also had better sperm health and motility.
The amount of vitamin C they were taking was about 1,000 milligrams per day, which is far higher than what most of us get from our daily diet.
**Drink less alcohol** Dr. Goldstein says that alcohol can not only reduce sperm production, but also worsen the consequences of varicocele.
He suggested reducing alcohol consumption to just two drinks per week.
**Be mindful of your exposure environment.** Lead and radiation have been shown to cause male infertility, at least temporarily.
Dr. Lipschultz says that although it is unlikely to ingest large amounts of substances that cause infertility simply by drinking water, you should still check the water you drink to make sure it is lead-free.
In addition, when undergoing an X-ray examination, be sure to cover the testicles with a protective apron.
**Pay attention to your prescriptions.** Infertility has been shown to be linked to some medications used to treat high blood pressure, infectious bowel disease, ulcers, and gout.
Therefore, you should take some antibiotics, or you can switch to other safe medications.
Finally, remember to consult your doctor frequently.