Proven ways to increase sperm count

Due to social, psychological, and economic reasons, less than 1% of the population in India seeks medical assistance for the problem. The problem of infertility is increasing in men in their early 30s, leading to lower sperm counts.

“Men who have less than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen have low sperm counts. A low sperm count is commonly known as oligozoospermia. Low sperm counts and issues with sperm quality are major factors impacting fertility. A normal sperm concentration is at least 20 million per mL, and anything lower than that may have implications for the sexual health of a man. In order to prevent this problem, it is important to understand its causes,” says Dr Sanjay Pandey, Men’s Health Clinic, Head of Andrology & Reconstructive Urology, Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai.

• Varicocele- A varicocele is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle, impacting the quality of the sperm.
• Infections- Some infections can affect sperm health or production, or they can lead to scarring that prevents sperm from passing through. These include some sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV, as well as inflammation of the testicles or epididymis.
• Hormonal issues- Hormonal imbalances and alterations in the thyroid and adrenal glands can affect sperm production.
• Ejaculation problem- Various health problems like retrograde ejaculation or lack of ejaculation and erectile dysfunction can hamper the sperm count.
• Lifestyle factors- Habits like smoking or consumption of alcohol or drugs can interfere negatively on the quality and quantity of the sperms. Additionally, other lifestyle conditions like obesity, stress, or trauma can also be associated with reasons for decreased sperm production.

• Fitness routine Regular exercise has numerous health benefits, including raising testosterone levels and enhancing fertility. Other lifestyle modifications, like reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and keeping weight under control, can boost sperm count and fertility.

Fertility in both men and women can benefit from vitamin D. Another vitamin that might raise testosterone levels is this one. Men who were vitamin D deficient had a higher likelihood of having low testosterone levels, according to one observational study. These conclusions were corroborated by a controlled investigation including 65 testosterone-deficient and vitamin D-deficient men. Their testosterone levels rose by about 25% after taking 3,000 IU of vitamin D3 every day for a year. Higher sperm motility has been associated with higher vitamin D levels, however the evidence for this is conflicting.

Antioxidants like vitamin C are among the foods that have been scientifically shown to have an impact on the health of the sperm. Eating foods high in antioxidants has been shown in clinical research to promote sperm health, particularly sperm concentration and motility.

There are also surgical procedures that can help, like a penile implant, in which a pair of flexible silicone cylinders are surgically placed inside the erection chambers of the penis. These can be solid malleable rods or 3-piece inflatable implants which provide a more natural feel and experience to the patient. These procedures improves a man’s ability to get an erection, leading to a healthy sexual life.

Also Read: Men are slowly losing their Y chromosome! There could be no humans or different human species in 11 million years