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How to Increase Male Fertility

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Infertility is a more common problem than many people realize. If you and your partner are struggling with infertility, there are many possible causes. In some cases, the problem is with male fertility. Some causes of male fertility problems include hormone levels or the quality or motility of sperm cells. If you and your partner are affected by this, it’s beneficial to learn as much as you can about how to increase male fertility.

While not all causes of male infertility are treatable, in many cases there are ways to be proactive about working toward improving sperm health. 

Healthy Habits for Healthier Sperm

The health of your sperm is often related to your overall health. To help improve your health and the health of your sperm, some things to do include:

  • Get active. Regular exercise is an important component of overall health. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day five days a week to help improve your metabolism and your sperm production. If you haven’t been exercising, consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine.
  • Eat nutritious foods. Trying to get by on fast food or food with little nutritional value can be harmful to the health of your sperm. Be sure to include healthy foods in your diet, especially a variety of fruits and vegetables along with lean proteins such as fish and poultry.
  • Get plenty of sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body has difficulty recharging, which can impact the production of healthy sperm. Taking care to get enough sleep may help increase male fertility and may help you to better cope with stress.

Your body mass index (BMI) helps to determine if you’re at a healthy weight. If you’re overweight or underweight, it may have a negative impact on sperm count. Work on getting to a healthy weight if you’re not already there.

Things to Avoid

If you’re hoping to increase male fertility, there are some things you need to avoid. One of the biggest ones is smoking because smoking can cause problems such as reduced sperm count, poor sperm motility, and male impotence.

Consuming too much alcohol can also affect the health of your sperm. Cutting down on alcohol consumption or avoiding it altogether may help to improve your ability to conceive a healthy baby. For better sperm quality, other things to avoid include excessive amounts of saturated fats, processed meats, and caffeine.

Sperm health can also be negatively affected by overheating the testicles. It’s a good idea to avoid saunas or hot tubs for optimal sperm health. If you work in a hot environment, try to take regular breaks, and avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time.

For more tips on increasing male fertility, reach out to the experts at the Center for Reproductive Health. Our team of compassionate and knowledgeable experts in the field of assisted reproductive technologies will help create a treatment plan that gives you the best chance of attaining a successful pregnancy. Schedule a consultation today.

See Dr. Mor’s Publications

Eliran Mor, MD

Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA
Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA Doctor Mor received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University-Sackler School of Medicine in Israel. He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently, Dr. Mor completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility […]
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FAQ

What does a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist do?

Reproductive endocrinology and Infertility is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to managing medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility (REI) specialists undergo additional years of training to provide fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization.

Reproductive endocrinologists receive board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

When should I see an REI specialist?

In general, patients should consider consulting with an REI specialist after one year of trying unsuccessfully to achieve pregnancy. The chance of conceiving every month is around 20%, therefore after a full year of trying approximately 15% of couples will still not have achieved a pregnancy.

However, if a woman is over the age of 35 it would be reasonable to see a fertility specialist earlier, typically after 6 months of trying.

Other candidates to seek earlier treatment are women who have irregular menses, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), women who have had 2 or more miscarriages, or problems with the fallopian tubes (prior ectopic pregnancy).

What are the reasons we are having trouble conceiving?

Approximately 1/3 of the time cause for infertility is a female factor, 1/3 of the time a male factor, and the remaining 1/3 a couples’ factor.

At CCRH, we emphasize the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Both partners undergo a comprehensive evaluation including a medical history and physical exam.

Furthremore, the woman’s ovarian reserve is assessed with a pelvic ultrasound and a hormonal profile. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) will confirm fallopian tube patency and the uterine cavity is free of intracavitary lesions. A semen analysis is also obtained to evaluate for concentration, motility, and morphology of the sperm.

Additional work up is then individualized to direct the best possible treatment option for each couple.

What is IVF? What is the process like?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process that involves fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body.

The process starts with fertility drugs prescribed to help stimulate egg development. In your natural cycle, your body is only able to grow one dominant egg, but with stimulation medication we can recruit multiple eggs to continue to grow. After about 8-10 days of stimulation, the eggs are surgically retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Fertilized eggs are then cultured under a strictly controlled environment within specialized incubators in the IVF laboratory for 3-5 days while they develop as embryos. Finally, embryos (or an embryo) are transferred into the uterine cavity for implantation.

Should I have IVF?

Before deciding if IVF is the right choice, it’s important to sit down with an REI specialist to discuss available treatment options. For some people, other methods such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be the best first choice treatment. At CCRH, we believe each individual couple is unique and not everyone needs IVF.

Is the IVF procedure painful?

While not painful, the fertility medications may some side effects including headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and bloating. The injection sites may also bruise.

Will IVF guarantee a baby?

Unfortunately, no. Many people think once they start IVF it’s a matter of time that they will be pregnant and have a baby. But according to national statistics per the Society of Assisted Reproduction (SART), on average 40% of assisted reproduction cycles achieve live births in women under age 35. The chances of success then continue to decrease with advancing age.

At CCRH, we employ only evidence-based interventions to ensure patient safety and optimal outcome. While we cannot guarantee a baby, we guarantee that you will receive the best, most advanced, personalized care to help you maximize your chance of a baby.

What is the success rate for IVF?

The average IVF success rate (success measured in live birth rate) using one’s own eggs begins to drop around age 35 and then rapidly after age 40. This is due to the decline in egg quantity and egg quality as a woman ages.

Our clinic’s success rate consistently beats the national average year after year.

Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment? How much does IVF cost?

Individual insurance plans often do not have any coverage for infertility treatments. If you have a group plan, you can call members services to see if they have coverage for infertility (including consultation/workup and IVF).

After your consultation with our REI specialist, one of our dedicated account managers with sit with you to go over the cost of treatment.

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