The decision to conceive a baby is a big step in a couple’s life. It is a combination of both, teamwork and self-care. As important as it is for the woman to take care of her fertility, it is even more important for the man to work on his.
Most of us fail to realize that the lifestyle we lead can affect our fertility too. And when the time comes for a couple to expand their family, the man is equally required to bring his lifestyle and health on track as the woman. So, let’s talk about how men can make their sperms healthier, faster and more fertile to improve overall chances of pregnancy.
Keep the weight in check
Weight affects a man’s libido and performance. Being underweight or overweight doesn’t help the process of conceiving. Moreover, regular exercise leads to a spike in testosterone levels, which in turn helps you make more sperms.
In order to ensure your weight is in the right bracket, check your Body-Mass Index (BMI), and if it does not fall in the correct range, work towards achieving the normal range through exercising and maintaining a healthy diet.
Watch what you eat
Nutrients like vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, selenium and folic acid have been known to help better sperm production. It is imperative that a man trying to have a baby with his partner gets enough of these nutrients. Include foods such as spinach, lamb, mushrooms, whole grains, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, eggs, asparagus, bananas, broccoli, pomegranate seeds in your daily diet. Lycopene, an antioxidant commonly found in tomatoes, also helps increase sperm production, as per a Harvard study. For a quick boost, eat tomato sauce: A quarter cup has 8,500 micrograms. But remember that it’s not a permanent fix, and a healthy, balanced diet is more important!
Goodbye, cigarettes and alcohol
It is a well-known fact that cigarettes and marijuana reduce sperm count. Smoking causes oxidative stress i.e. an imbalance between production of free radicals and the body’s ability to detoxify their harmful effects, and damages the sperms. Even alcohol, research has said, affects sperm production and quality, libido and causes impotence. In fact, consuming more than 20 units of alcohol per week seriously affects the chances of a successful conception.
Check your health
Regular health check-ups keep you in the know about what’s going on in your body, what it needs and how it functions. This will help you understand what needs to be done in order to work towards having a better and healthier sperm and thus, a better chance at conceiving.
It is prudent to have your sperm count and fertility checked before you start trying. So, don’t hesitate to pay a visit to the doctor, it’ll give you some much needed clarity and insight!
What medicines are you taking?
Any medication that the man might be taking, be it steroids, proteins, over-the-counter prescriptions and such should be checked with your doctor for any effect on your reproductive system. Also, religiously follow the course of medicines your doctor might suggest to improve fertility. It is all going to help you, your partner and your wish to have a baby, after all.
Keep calm
The testicles are tucked away separately in the scrotum so that they can maintain the temperature required for sperm production. Ideally, the temperature in that area is 2-3 degrees cooler than the body temperature and it is imperative that it is maintained so. Any increase in that temperature directly affects sperm. Common practices such as keeping the laptop on your lap, keeping your phone in the front pocket, spending too much time on the motorcycle, wearing really tight pants/underwear all the time can elevate the temperature in that area, affect sperm production and hamper chances of pregnancy.
Before the couple tries to conceive and test for pregnancy, make sure both of you are healthy and fertile. Of course, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor for further insights into your health and the way forward.