Infertility has become increasingly prevalent in modern times, affecting approximately 17.5% of adults worldwide. This issue is particularly pronounced among males. Male infertility occurs when a man's ability to conceive with his female partner is significantly reduced. However, there are proactive steps individuals can take to enhance fertility. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and adopting a nutritious diet are all strategies that can help increase sperm count and improve fertility.
This article provides valuable insights into male infertility and practical ways to mitigate its risks.
Potential Causes for Male Infertility
There are various causes for male infertility. Some factors include:
- Poor quality sperm is caused by a shortage of sperm, sperm that do not travel properly, or sperm that are improperly formed
- Problems in ejaculation
- Malformed sperm that cannot survive long enough to fertilise the egg
- Testicular problems such as genetic abnormalities, infection, or testicular damage
- Varicoceles is a condition where the veins on your testicles are larger than usual, causing them to overheat, which can affect the shape or number of your sperm
- Hypogonadism or simply abnormally low levels of testosterone
- Using certain medications and drugs, including illegal drugs
How to Know If You Have Infertility
Other than the most common symptom that your partner is unable to conceive a child, there are various other factors that may indicate infertility, like:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Difficulty with ejaculation or small volumes of fluid ejaculated
- Reduced sexual desire
- Recurrent respiratory infections
- Decrease in facial and body hair
- Lower sperm count
- Pain, lump, or swelling in the testicle area
- Gynecomastia or abnormal growth of breasts
If you notice the symptoms mentioned above, then contact your healthcare provider immediately.
How do you improve male fertility naturally?
There are many ways you can approach to increase your fertility naturally, like:
- Exercise regularly: Regular exercise has been shown to increase testosterone levels and improve fertility. Studies reveal that men who exercise regularly exhibit greater testosterone levels and better sperm quality than guys who are sedentary.
- Reduce stress: Stress is one of the factors that can affect your fertility. Prolonged stress boosts cortisol levels, which negatively impacts testosterone levels. When cortisol levels rise, testosterone levels tend to decline. To reduce stress, stroll in nature, meditate, exercise, or spend time with friends.
- Get proper sleep: If you don’t sleep properly, your semen quality decreases significantly. You should always sleep for 7-9 hours a night if you want to reduce your infertility.
- Eat healthy: You can reduce male infertility significantly if you eat a healthy and balanced diet. You should include green vegetables, fruits, nuts, lean meat, chia seeds, etc., in your diet, as these food items provide nutrients that can significantly improve your fertility.
Precautions to Follow for Protecting Male Fertility
Various factors can affect male fertility. However, being cautious and avoiding these factors can help protect your male fertility like:
- Lose excess weight: Being overweight is associated with male infertility. If your doctor feels that weight is related to your infertility, they will suggest weight loss as one of your health objectives to protect your fertility.
- Avoid heavy alcohol consumption: Heavy alcohol consumption hurts your fertility. It can reduce your testosterone levels and impair semen quality. So, avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible.
- Avoid unhealthy foods: To maintain fertility, you should avoid consuming fast food regularly. Eating unhealthy foods can reduce the quantity of “normal”-shaped sperm cells.
- Avoid taking self-medication: Always get medical counsel before using any medication. Certain medications may adversely affect your fertility. If you are taking medication, discuss the side effects with your doctor.
- Avoid eating soy too much: You should lower your soy consumption as soy is rich in isoflavones. These isoflavones are associated with lower semen quality.
Treatment Options Available for Male Infertility
Various treatment options are available for male infertility. Some of those treatment option are as follows:
- Hormone therapy
- Vasectomy reversal
- Vasoepididymostomy
- Artificial insemination
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- Gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Conclusion
Male infertility has become a pretty common problem in this generation. However, you should not worry too much as you can improve your fertility in various ways. You only need to follow a healthy lifestyle and avoid all those things that can lead to male infertility. There are also treatment options available for this condition, you can opt for.
Get the Best Treatment for Male Infertility from Dr. Nandita Palshetkar
Are you experiencing challenges with male fertility? Seeking expert guidance can make a significant difference. Dr. Nandita P. Palshetkar, renowned as Mumbai's leading fertility specialist, offers compassionate care and professional advice to patients seeking to improve their fertility levels. Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Palshetkar today to explore personalised solutions for enhancing fertility and overall well-being. Take the first step towards improved reproductive health and emotional wellness by reaching out for support today.
