I’ve heard so many times from women: “I hope it’s an issue with me, so I can just take care of it.”
In true female fashion, many women would rather take on the burden of their family’s health, instead of watching their family members struggle. We often like to feel in control, and it’s hard to control fertility factors that are not happening in our own bodies.
Roughly 40% of infertility is related to male-factor infertility, and sperm counts have been decreasing globally over the past few decades.
Fertilization is a delicate process, and not just any sperm will be allowed into an egg. A woman’s eggs are so particular… picky?… selective?… WISE. They’re very wise, and because they are very wise when it comes to selecting the best sperm to invade their space, the sperm need to be:
- Plentiful
- Strong
- Free of defects
The good news – men can change the quality of their sperm with non-invasive lifestyle changes. They can also make new sperm every day, and drastically improve their sperm over a short period of time.
What Your Male Counterpart Can Do
Here are a few things your male counterpart can do to change their sperm health in a positive direction.
- Remove excess heat and radiation from their lap. Heat and radiation are destructive to sperm (this is why the testes sit lower and outside the body). Avoid carrying cell phones in pockets, sitting laptops on laps, as well as hot tubs and saunas. Yes, cell phones in laps lower sperm counts.
- Get sperm and hormones tested. It can be easier to make lifestyle changes if you see the detrimental effects on paper. In particular, you want to know testosterone levels, sperm count, sperm morphology (shape), and sperm motility (movement). If you’re being very proactive and he’s up for an allover reboot, invest in a NutraEval lab test. A lipid panel can be very helpful as well!
- Avoid processed foods – t
hese damage gut health and cell integrity. Stick to whole foods, i.e. eat a real grass fed steak or burger at home, but avoid lunch meat with several ingredients, hot dogs, and the fast food drive thru. Work towards small change, not drastic restrictions. Eat a burger, but make it at home. Split dessert instead of ordering two. Little changes add up. Learn more about Gut Health HERE.
- Supplement with extra nutrients and herbs that repair cellular damage, and encourage healthy sperm growth. Particularly, a solid multi-vitamin, Omega 3’s, Co-Q 10, and Ashwagandha. Many people want to think they can get all the nutrients they need from food, but food quality has changed drastically over time. The apple you used to eat doesn’t have the same nutrients that an apple had 20 years ago. Unless you eat extremely clean, all organic, and a wide variety of plants and animals, you are likely not going to reach optimal health with food alone.
- Avoid consumption of soy. Add more plants to every meal (we love a variety of color in our foods).
Surviving an infertility struggle takes real communication between you and your partner. Be honest about your concern for their health, and how much of the load you are carrying. There’s a good chance they WANT to know but don’t know how to help. You can work together to find a productive road forward. If you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere between the two of you because emotions are running high, consider temporary counseling. Having a clinically trained 3rd party to help you hash out your plan can allow you to move through some big steps in a safe space. It’s ok to ask for help from your partner and a professional!
Timing Tips:
If you are struggling with lower sperm counts, wait longer in between intercourse attempts to allow the number to build up. If you are dealing with poor morphology (the shape of the sperm is an issue, rather than the number) it can be helpful to attempt intercourse more frequently to clear out the irregular sperm.
