Dr. Nitin Kanani

About 15% of all couples trying to get pregnant end up subfertile - meaning they find it difficult to conceive. Factors related to the male account for 50% of all infertile cases.

The commonest manifestation of male factor is reduced quality of the semen. This includes sperm density (also called sperm count), sperm motility, sperm morphology (physical appearance of the spermatozoa), and also physical properties of the seminal fluid (ex: too viscous, too acidic), chemical composition (total absence or reduced quantities of certain enzymes), presence of antibodies, infection, to mention a few.

The second most important male factor involves sperm delivery:

This includes inability to have sexual intercourse, unsuitable coital technique, position, timing, frequency; Using lubricants that may impair sperms. If you are trying for pregnancy, there are many things you can do by yourself, to keep your semen quality high and increase your fertility score. Men who live a healthy lifestyle are more likely to produce healthy sperm. So, avoid lifestyle choices that adversely impact your fertility.

Here are some things you can do to improve your semen and sperm quality:

Lifestyle Habits you may wish to change:

• Smoking - It significantly decreases both sperm count and motility.
• Alcohol - Chronic alcohol abuse has adverse effect on semen quality
• Recreational drugs - Marijuana and other recreational drugs could damage the fertility potential of your sperm cells
• Steroids - Especially anabolic steroid use causes testicular shrinkage and infertility. Intense exercise increases prolactin, a milk-promoting hormone, which in turn leads to diminished sperm production (oligospermia).
• Anything that increases scrotal temperature - Tight underwear, hot sauna baths, hot work environment o Exposure to environmental hazards and toxins such as pesticides, lead, paint, radiation, radioactive substances, mercury, boron, benzene, etc.
• Malnutrition, anemia
• Zinc and Vitamin C & deficiency
• High levels of stress

Avoiding these situations and substances, changing your lifestyle incorporating nutritious diet, and stress-free functioning could greatly improve your chances of better quality semen. This, however, does not substitute medical treatment, but would only supplement it. You would also respond better to the treatment, if taking any. If you are told that your semen report is less than optimal, do consult the doctor early to improve the situation.