Healthy sperm is the underlying factor for conception. An embryo formed by a healthy sperm will have healthy growth. Healthy sperm is not something that starts when you are trying to conceive. The health of the sperm is determined by puberty. Along the way, based on the lifestyle, sperm health can alter. Various health issues, surgeries, accidents, etc, affect the health of the sperm. So, in this blog, from ZIVA Fertility clinics, let us understand how a healthy sperm improves fertility.
Couples nowadays are very aware that they should not just assume that their fertility is good. A welcoming change is that men are equally taking steps to maintain their fertility, especially in terms of lifestyle changes. So, if you are planning a pregnancy, you might wonder about the health of your sperm.
Factors determining the health of a sperm
A healthy sperm is indicated by three main factors such as quantity, movement and structure:
- Sperm Quantity in an ejaculate: Fertility is at its best if the semen contains at least 15 million sperm per millilitre. Too little sperm makes it more challenging to get pregnant because there are fewer sperm available to fertilise the egg.
- Movement of the sperm: To fertilise an egg, sperm must move in a wiggly fashion and swim across the female cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes. This characteristic of the sperm is termed as motility. Pregnancy is possible with at least 40% of the sperm in ejaculate moving, and 40% is the threshold. Motility can be higher than 40% but not less than that. If the sperm motility is low, it cannot swim across to reach the egg for fertilisation.
- Sperm Structure morphology: The shape of healthy sperm is that of oval heads and long tails. This shape helps them to propel forward.
- For a male sperm to be healthy, various bodily structures should work well, such as:
- Hypothalamus or the pituitary gland: These glands are present in the brain and signal the testicles to produce testosterone and sperm, secondary hypogonadism.
- The testicles should have descended properly and should be free of any disease. Any surgery or medical conditions should not have altered the functioning of the testes.
- The transportation mechanism that helps sperm mix with semen should be free. There should not be any blockages there.
- Men produce healthy sperm at younger ages. After the age of 50, sperm motility and the quantity of sperm tend to decrease.
What’s the best way to produce healthy sperm?
Maintaining healthy sperm is not as complicated as facing issues with fertility later on. Below are a few of the suggestions that, when adapted will help you keep the health of of your sperm production:
- Maintain your fitness levels: As the body mass index increases, researchers have observed a decrease in sperm count and issues with sperm movement.
- Maintain a well-balanced diet: Include lots of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants to improve sperm health.
- Stay safe from sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Most common STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea directly cause infertility in men. One should follow safe sex practices and should limit their sexual partners. Please always use a condom for sex, and the best is to have a single sex partner who isn’t infected.
- Healthily handle stress: Stress can be managed via the daily practice of yoga and meditation. Spending time in nature and better organization of your personal and professional life will help you de-stress. Stress mainly decreases sexual function and interferes with the hormones needed to produce sperm.
- Stay active: Daily exercise can increase levels of powerful antioxidant enzymes that protect sperm.
What should you avoid to maintain a healthy sperm?
- Sperm is sensitive to environmental factors, such as exposure to excessive heat or toxic chemicals.
- Don’t smoke since it will most likely reduce sperm counts. Seek professional help if you are unable to quit smoking by yourself.
- Heavy drinking also reduces testosterone production, leading to impotence and decreased sperm production.
- Stay away from lubricants during sex: one can switch over lubricants to mineral oil, canola oil, mustard oil or a fertility-friendly lubricant.
- Get your medications verified: Calcium channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, anti-androgens, opioids and other medications work against sperm’s health. Steroids and other illicit drugs should be avoided.
- If you have to work with pesticides, lead and other toxins, use protective equipment, such as safety goggles, wear protective clothing, and avoid skin contact with chemicals.
- Keep the scrotum cool, so wear loose-fitting underwear, reduce sitting, avoid saunas and hot tubs, and limit scrotum exposure to warm objects, such as a laptop.
- The lifestyle choices that men make today will affect their future chances of fathering a child. So avoid things that can damage it.
We at ZIVA Fertility Clinics have decades of experience in the field of fertility. With changing lifestyles and work hours, men should also take care of their fertility. Staying active and eating a balanced diet along with safe sex practices is one of the best ways to maintain healthy sperm. For more information, please visit our website https://zivafertility.com/ or contact us at +91-9100002737 or +91-9392834024.
