Improving Male Fertility

All too often, when a opposite sex couple are struggling to conceive , it’s female fertility that is front and centre and any potential fertility problems with the man are not considered until later. However, did you know that in the UK 30% of fertility problems are due to male factors alone?¹ This is the same percentage as woman. The 40% remaining, are due to both male and female factors combined or because the reason a couple are struggling to conceive cannot be found.

Therefore, the fact that men are half the equation tells us that we need to focus on sperm health too. In this article we’ll take a deep dive into sperm health and the causes of fertility problems. We’ll also look at what steps can be taken to improve sperm health and male fertility.

What affects healthy sperm?

The health of the sperm can be affected by many factors such as:

• Age – sperm quality starts to decline in the early to mid 40’s
• Smoking – lowers sperm count and quality of sperm
• Being overweight – lowers sperm count and the health and movement of sperm
• Alcohol and drugs – heavy or binge drinking damages sperm production and health
• Overheating of the testicles – heat affects good sperm production
• Certain prescribed medication – medication like chemotherapy can affect sperm production
• Environmental and occupational hazards – toxic substances like pesticides and other chemicals can affect the quality and quantity of sperm

What causes male fertility problems?

There are many causes for male infertility and the reasons are not always clear. However, we do know that the following can cause male infertility:

• Hypogonadism:
  • Hypogonadism is a hormonal imbalance due to the lack of the male sex hormone testosterone. Hypogonadism appears to affect around 5 in 1000 men.
• Problems of the testes:
  • If the testes are damaged this can impact on the quality of sperm. Problems of the testicles can range from a congenital problem (from birth) to previous trauma or illness to the testes, undescended testicles, infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or prostatitis (infection of the prostate gland), previous surgery to the testicles and hernia repairs.
• Erectile Dysfunction (ED):
  • ED is the failure to achieve an erection and therefore can impact on your ability to conceive. It is a very common concern, particularly in men over 40. ED is generally caused by stress, tiredness or drinking too much alcohol. However, if it occurs frequently there may be other underlying physical or emotional conditions.
• Varicoceles:
  • A varicocele is a cluster of enlarged veins in the testicles, similar to varicose veins in the legs. A varicocele is present in approximately 15% of men suffering from infertility and is therefore a major cause of male infertility.

If you are concerned that you may have any of the conditions above, don’t hesitate to talk your doctor. We know it can feel awkward and embarrassing to talk about, however your doctor will know how to discuss your concerns sensitively and give you the help you need.

How to improve sperm health

The first thing to check when thinking about improving sperm is to have a sperm test. Speak to your doctor about arranging this. If you prefer, you can also look at options for purchasing a male fertility test online, however these tests may not check for everything we need to make sure sperm is healthy.

Healthy sperm is measured by three factors: count, motility and morphology. Let’s explain these terms in more detail.

1. Count - the sperm count is the actual number of sperm in a sperm sample.
2. Motility – this assesses to see if sperm are moving and are moving in a forward direction to meet the egg
3. Morphology – this is the shape of the sperm to check if the head and tail are formed correctly.

Now you’ll know if there are any problems with sperm health and you can start making healthy changes to help improve the results. If the sperm test is completely normal, that’s great news but it’s still important to make healthy changes to keep the sperm that way. It’s never too early to start looking after your sperm!

If, however, your sperm test comes back abnormal, it is understandable to feel concerned about this. Take the opportunity to speak with your doctor to discuss what these results mean for you and your fertility. Your doctor will advise you the options available for you and your partner.

Tips for getting pregnant for men

Here are some of the things you can do to increase sperm count and improve sperm motility and morphology:

• Reduce or stop smoking – vaping is also not recommended and may have the same impact on sperm health as smoking
• Work towards a healthy BMI between 18-25kg/m². You can work out your BMI here
• Avoid binge drinking – Alcohol and fertility generally don’t mix! Light drinking throughout the week may not impact on sperm health, but excessive alcohol does.
• Avoid recreational drugs
• If you work in an environment where pollution and toxins are high, wear masks and protective clothing to avoid exposure to toxins. Avoid working in hot environments like kitchens or bakeries.
• Enjoy plenty of exercise but long bike rides aren’t sperm friendly so keep to a minimum.
• Avoid heat exposure from hot tubs, hot baths, laptops on laps and sitting too long.
• Eat a healthy diet full of good protein sources and a variety of fruit and vegetables
• Take a men’s fertility health supplement to help keep your sperm in tip top condition
• Be mindful of, and try and reduce, your exposure to BPA in plastics and nasty toxins like parabens and phthalates which may be found in beauty and cleaning products.

Other than the healthy choices we have discussed above, the most important thing you can do is to have regular sex. This means having sex every 2-3 days. The reason this is important is that whilst the life of the egg, once ovulated, is very short – 12-24 hours max, the life of sperm after ejaculation is longer. Sperm can live in the vagina for around a week². By having regular sex, you are more likely to have sperm available around ovulation and therefore increase your chances of conception.

We also know that regular ejaculation maximises sperm health and this is even the case if you have a low sperm count³.

As we have seen, male fertility is half the equation when it comes to trying to conceive. There are many factors that influence the health and production of sperm, but there is also a great deal you can do to help so that you can go on to conceive.

If you are struggling to conceive due to male factor fertility, know that you are not alone and what you are dealing with is very common. Speak with your doctor if you are concerned and you may like to check out some of the areas of support listed below.

Support resources

• HIM Fertility
• The Fertility Podcast
• The Male Fertility Podcast
• Men’s Fertility Support Facebook Group
• The Man Cave

FAQ’s about male fertility:

Can male fertility be improved?

Yes, it is possible to make improvements to sperm health through healthy lifestyle changes. However, in some circumstances, despite having a healthy lifestyle, sperm may not improve. This is particularly the case if you have a condition that impacts sperm health and production. In this case, your doctor or specialist may suggest fertility treatments to help you conceive.

What are the signs a man is fertile?

A sign that a man is fertile is that he has either conceived a child or that a sperm test is normal. However, both factors are confirmation of fertility at that time only.

Is folic acid good for male infertility?

Men can choose to take a male fertility supplement if they wish. These may contain folic acid among other nutrients which may help with sperm health. However, the current evidence shows us that there is conflicting evidence surrounding the benefits of folic acid for sperm health. More research is needed to understand if folic acid can help with sperm health. Nutrients such as zinc, selenium and vitamin D may help to improve sperm health.

What should men avoid when trying to conceive?

Men should avoid smoking, binge drinking and recreational drugs when trying to conceive. Be mindful of exposure to toxins like BPA in plastics and nasties such as parabens and phthalates which may be found in beauty and cleaning products. Avoiding excessive heat exposure through hot baths, hot tubs and laptops on laps is a good idea too.

What vitamins are good for male fertility?

Nutrients such as zinc, selenium and vitamin D may help to improve sperm health. These can be obtained through foods (and careful sun exposure for vitamin D) or taken as a supplement individually, or as an all-in-one male fertility supplement.

References

1. British Fertility Society (2024) What is infertility. https://www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk/fei/what-is-infertility/ Last accessed 09/07/24
2. Fertility UK Fertility Awareness https://www.fertilityuk.org/page1 Last accessed 09/07/24
3. NHS (2024) Low Sperm Count https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/low-sperm-count Last accessed 09/07/24