Male Fertility: Everything You Need to Know

When a couple is trying to have a baby and things are not progressing as hoped, the blame—especially in traditional patriarchal societies—often falls on the woman. However, conception is a process that requires two people: both the woman and the man.

In fact, statistically, 15% of couples in the Western world face infertility problems. In these cases, 40%–50% of infertility issues are due to factors from both partners, while in about 20% of cases, the man alone is responsible.

See here our blog post about the importance of testing sperm quality,
and here for all our blog posts related to male fertility.

How Male Fertility Can Be Tested

All men who are starting to try for a baby with their partner should check the quality of their sperm.

This can be done either in a specialized laboratory for semen analysis—always in consultation with a qualified andrologist-urologist—or at home easily and quickly using the Male Fertility Test from HomeTest.

According to the latest World Health Organization (2010) guidelines, sperm is considered infertile when it contains fewer than 15 million motile sperm per ml or fewer than 39 million motile sperm per ejaculation.

Ways to Naturally Boost Male Fertility

  • Exercise and adequate sleep have been shown to improve sperm count.
  • Before turning to supplements, it’s recommended to start with basic multivitamins (including vitamins C, D, E, and K, as well as zinc and selenium) or related herbs.
  • Add as many vegetables to your diet as possible, making sure they include a variety of colors for better nutrient diversity.
  • Smoking and alcohol are long known to reduce overall health, sperm production, and quality.
  • Reducing stress helps significantly. Find ways to lower your stress levels—such as hobbies or relaxing activities.
  • Increase your intake of healthy fats (polyunsaturated, omega-3, omega-6) and reduce unhealthy fats (trans fats).
  • Avoid toxic environments such as polluted or chemically contaminated areas.
  • Avoid overheating the testicles. Do not use laptops on your lap for long periods and wear loose underwear, such as boxers.

When to Seek Medical Advice

There’s no strict rule, but generally, you should seek medical advice if one year of regular attempts has passed—assuming you’ve confirmed that intercourse occurs during your fertile days using ovulation tests.

Treatment

In general, as long as there’s no pathological or genetic cause, male infertility is not difficult to recover from or can even be corrected in some way. Moreover, many modern studies show that certain nutrients (vitamins, dietary supplements) can help improve sperm quality quickly.

Except for rare cases, lifestyle and dietary changes are often enough to resolve the issue without medical intervention. When treatment is necessary, it’s usually a simple procedure, often performed in the doctor’s office.

Of course, your andrologist has the final word!

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