[Kary♥RN]

Male Infertility and Low Sperm Count

By Denny Watkins
Of the 7 million couples who face infertility issues every year, around 40 percent can't conceive because of male infertility due to low sperm count. While underlying medical conditions can affect sperm count, certain environmental factors can also come into play.

You're overweight: Carrying a few extra pounds around your middle both lowers your sperm count and increases cellular damage in sperm, according to a Harvard University study published in May. That's because excess body fat decreases testosterone levels and increases estradiol, the female sex hormone. The one-two hormonal punch puts a crimp on sperm production and leaves the surviving few more vulnerable.
You take erectile dysfunction meds: Although older men in the target market for Viagra are typically past the child-rearing age, more and more young men are popping the blue pill without a prescription to get a little extra edge in the sack. Here's one reason why they shouldn't: A British study found that Viagra, Levitra and Cialis damaged the head of the sperm, making it tougher for them to penetrate the female egg and start the cell division process that leads to a baby.
You skimp on beef: A good T-bone happens to be one of the best dietary sources of zinc, which Iranian scientists found in much higher concentrations in the semen of fertile men than infertile guys. They believe that zinc's role as an antioxidant helps sweep up free radicals that cause sperm damage. If you don't want to up your steak intake, you can get extra zinc from sunflower seeds, vitamin-fortified breakfast cereal and multivitamins.
Your cell phone is glued to your ear: Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic discovered that the more time men spent on their cell phones, the lower their sperm counts. Men who spent four hours a day or more on their cells had the lowest sperm counts and men who didn't use cell phones at all had the highest. A separate Australian laboratory study figured out why: The 1.8 gigahertz frequency used by cell phones increased the amount of free radical damage on sperm, reducing their ability to swim and increasing DNA fragmentation.
You don't eat your veggies: A University of California study found that guys who didn't get enough folate, which is the water-soluble form of vitamin B9, had 20 percent more sperm with the wrong number of chromosomes. The best sources of folate: spinach, asparagus and chickpeas (the main ingredient in hummus).
You drink regular soda: An Irish study found that high blood sugar damages sperm and increases the chances your kid will develop a birth defect. In the study, men with type 1 diabetes had sperm with 20 percent more mutations that the sperm of healthy men. Researchers believe that the high blood glucose levels associated with diabetes (and gorging on sugary foods) increases oxidative stress on sperm cells.
You're depressed: Researchers at Cornell University discovered that when men started taking the antidepressant called paroxetine (which is marketed under the names Paxil and Seroxat) their chances of shooting sperm with damaged DNA increased from 1 in 10 to 50-50. The DNA damage could lead to decreased fertility and an increased risk of birth defects.
You're a smoker: In addition to the many horrible health consequences of regular tobacco use (maybe you've heard?), a study in Egypt found that men who smoke cigarettes produced sperm with rounded heads -- which means they can't penetrate the egg -- and broken DNA. Researchers believe that smoking floods your body with free radicals, which eventually make their way down to your gonads and tear apart sperm cells.
More on Men's Sexual Health:
Infertility Tests
Should I Have Infertility Testing?

[kitkat8323]

lol my DF doesnt eat beef or veggies he drinks reg soda he plays on his phone all the time and hes a smoker lol im screwed

[ldovey83]

LOL MY DH smokes like a champ.. I have always wondered if that was the case cause I know when we had DS he didn't smoke anymore, and we were taking vitamins and all this he has stopped and we have had 3 miscarriages.. This sucks..

[MeganMomof5]

My husband doesn't really have any of those problems...He does smoke cigars on weekends, which I hate, but I wonder since you don't inhale cigars if it isn't the same as smoking? He does like steak, I guess I should start cooking it more often, which would make him happy and I don't have to tell him why

[KAB]

Thanks for posting this. My DH has been asking me a lot lately what he can do to increase his sperm count and mobility, I'm going to at least have him read this even though he is right on track.