Healthy Sperm: Improving Your Fertility As A Man!

hHealthy Sperm: Improving Your Fertility As A Man!
Healthy sperm aren’t always a given.
You should understand how lifestyle factors can affect your
sperm and what you can do to improve your fertility.
Do
your sperm pass muster?
If you and your partner are planning a pregnancy, you might
be wondering about the health of your sperm. Start by
understanding the various factors that can affect male
fertility — then consider steps to help your sperm become
top performers.
What determines sperm health?
Sperm health depends on various factors, including quantity,
quality and movement:
Quantity. You’re most likely to be fertile if your release — the
semen discharged in a single ejaculation — contains more than
15 million sperm per milliliter.
Quality. Normal sperm have oval heads and long tails, which
work together to propel them forward. The more sperm you
have with a normal shape and structure, the more likely you
are to be fertile.
Movement. To reach and penetrate an egg, sperm must move
— wriggling and swimming through a woman’s cervix, uterus
and fallopian tubes. This is known as motility. You’re most
likely to be fertile if more than 40 percent of your sperm are
moving.
What’s the best way to produce healthy sperm?
You can take simple steps to increase your chances of
producing healthy sperm. For example:
Practice safe s*x. Sexually transmitted infections — such as
chlamydia and gonorrhea — are a leading cause of infertility
for both men and women. To protect yourself, limit your
number of s*xual partners and use a condom each time you
have s*x — or stay in a mutually monogamous relationship
with a partner who isn’t infected.
Eat a healthy diet. Choose plenty of fruits and vegetables,
which are rich in antioxidants — and might help improve sperm
health.
Maintain a healthy weight. Some research suggests that
obesity negatively affects sperm quality, reducing both sperm
count and sperm movement.
Manage stress. Stress can decrease s*xual function and
interfere with the hormones needed to produce sperm.
Get moving. Include physical activity in your daily routine