Often times when a couple is trying to get pregnant, all of the focus is on the woman’s fertility. They strategically engage in sex during the appropriate time of the month to capitalize on the female’s “fertile week”, and she may also begin taking supplements to boost her fertility levels as well.
What is often ignored and not considered, however, is making sure that the male is fertile as well. Men can just as equally be to blame if a couple is unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant, and there are a number of factors that can influence a man’s fertility. However, there are also a number of ways – particularly in regards to diet – that men can increase their chances of producing better sperm, both in terms of quality and quantity.
How to Boost Male Fertility Through Diet and Weight Loss
Dr. Natan Bar-Chama, the director of the Center of Male Reproductive Health at RMA of New York and a board-certified urologist and male infertility specialist, is quoted in this article on CNN.com as saying:
“It’s important to appreciate that when you have a couple challenged with infertility, in about 40% to 50% of the time, we are able to attribute the male as the primary contributory cause.”
Another expert on the subject, Lauren Manaker, a dietitian and author of “Fueling Male Fertility”, adds:
“People assume if a couple is having a hard time getting pregnant, it’s the woman’s responsibility to make the changes and it’s her body that’s not working right, but we’re learning more and more that that’s not the case.”
Causes of Male Infertility
Diet, body weight, the amount of exercise activity, the use of tobacco and drugs, and stress levels all play a part in the fertility of men. These lifestyle factors can lead to a lower sperm count, abnormalities in the sperm, and low testosterone levels and decrease the chances of conception. While it is often thought of as the woman’s problem, it is time to start taking a look at the lifestyle of the man in the couple to see if there are factors that are contributing to an inability to conceive.
Lifestyle Changes to Increase Fertility
Given the lifestyle factors that are listed above, it is easy to see that there are a number of improvements that men can make if they want to increase the chances of conception.
If a man is obese, it can decrease their fertility, so an obvious fix is to start eating healthier (as a poor diet leads to obesity, as well as decreases sperm count and quantity in itself) to lose the extra weight and get healthier.
If you fancy yourself as a couch potato, it is time to get up off the couch and start getting more exercise. Beyond just increasing your sperm quality and quantity, I’m sure I don’t have to reiterate all of the health benefits that come from a steady exercise routine (we recommend these programs to be more active: dietpillreviews.com/workout-programs). Not only will your reproductive system be healthier, but you will have much better overall health and wellness once you are more active.
Stress can play a role in fertility, and a regular exercise routine can release endorphins to help lower your stress levels. You may also want to try other ways to relieve stress, perhaps adopting yoga into your schedule or maybe meditation. Some like to de-stress by reading a book or listening to music. If the demands of a busy schedule are causing you stress, it might be time to get more organized so everything is not such a daunting, stressful task.
Additionally, the use of alcohol and other drugs can lower the sperm quantity and quality of men. While they may be imbibements that you enjoy (and might also be methods that you use to reduce stress), it is time to put those down if you are having trouble conceiving with your partner. Not only will your fertility be at a higher level, but there are tremendous health benefits to reducing alcohol to a moderate level.
There are other changes that can be made that you wouldn’t probably think about that can lead to a change in fertility. Avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear, as this can increase the temperature in the scrotal area and kill off sperm cells. The reason that the testicles are external from the body is that they need to be kept at a few degrees color than your body temperature. Pressing them close to the body with tight undergarments can negate this temperature difference and reduce sperm health.
Other things to avoid are hot baths or saunas, as well as staying away from heavy metals. Exposure to heavy metals, whether through environmental or occupational means, has been linked to a decrease in sperm quantity and quality. On top of that, excessive use of a cell phone or other wireless technology, particularly when kept in a front pants’ pocket or on a lap, can also affect your sperm count and quality.
Foods to Increase Infertility
As told in the CNN.com article linked earlier in this post, it is recommended that you consume more antioxidant-rich foods if you want to give your fertility a boost. Oxidative stress can be harmful to your sperm, breaking down its membranes and affecting its ability to successfully penetrate and attach to a female egg after ejaculation through intercourse.
Foods that are rich in antioxidants tend to be fruits and vegetables, with tomatoes being a particularly strong source of the antioxidant lycopene. Selenium, another powerful antioxidant, is found in nuts and seafood, and you can add dark meat poultry to your diet for a quality source of Zinc.
Supplements to Boost Fertility
One particular group of supplements that we discuss a lot on this site is testosterone boosters (dietpillreviews.com/best-testosterone-boosters), and there is no better source of boosting fertility than t-boosters. An increase in a man’s testosterone level has a positive correlation to sperm quantity and quality (not to mention an increase in their sexual drive). For our top recommendations, we suggest taking a look at the following brands:
- dietpillreviews.com/best-testosterone-boosters/testogen-review/
- dietpillreviews.com/best-testosterone-boosters/spartagen-xt-review/
- dietpillreviews.com/best-testosterone-boosters/prime-male-review/
In Conclusion
When it comes to conceiving a child, it takes two to tango! While much of the responsibility seems to fall the woman’s health, it is just as likely that the lifestyle of the man is playing a part. Make the appropriate lifestyle changes if you are guilty of any of the factors above if you wish to increase your chances of conception!
About Shaun Hudson
Shaun Hudson loves sports, being outdoors, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After many unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, he finally was able to drop 25 pounds and keep it off. The secret? He kept a journal of his activity, diet, and daily life. That journal changed his life, and has since evolved into this website. Read his full bio.