Can you improve Sperm Health? Part 1
Yes, you can!
It’s important if you are embarking on your fertility journey or having issues with fertility to not solely place the focus on the woman as we can see men’s sperm health is just as important.
Aiming for higher levels in sperm results rather than the minimum reference range may give better outcomes and shorten the time to pregnancy.
Why do we need to be improving Sperm Health?
In recent years, there has been growing concern about the declining sperm concentrations around the world, which could be attributed to various lifestyle factors such as obesity and exposure to environmental chemicals & radiations.
Research undertaken in 2017 shows that sperm count has dropped by 48% in 39 years and is expected to drop a further 1% per year.
Male infertility is associated with significant elevated levels of stress. The good news is that it takes approximately 3.5 months for new sperm to be produced and there is a lot that one can do with lifestyle changes to help optimise chances of conception.
(Sneak peek, Acupuncture is on the list)
In Australia 1 in 6 couples struggle to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sex. Male infertility is a contributing factor in approximately 50% of these cases.
What determines Sperm Health?
Semen analysis are important and act like a report card of what is happening with the man’s health.
The main and most common parameters looked at in a semen sample are:
Volume
Concentration
Count
Progressive Motility
Morphology
But what does this all mean?
Sperm volume is important and an adequate amount is required to carry sperm into the female reproductive tract.
Sperm Concentration is a significant factor in sperm health. Millions of sperm start the journey from the ejaculate to the egg, but millions die on the way. A good sperm concentration increases the likelihood that one sperm will successfully complete the journey and fertilise an egg.
Sperm Count is the number of sperm per ejaculate. A low count reduces the chances of natural conception.
Progressive Motility The percentage of sperm moving in the right direction. Sperm needs to move through the uterus up through the fallopian tube to get to the egg.
Morphology This is the shape or the structure of the sperm. Normal sperm will have oval heads and long tails which work together to propel them to get to the egg. The head contains the DNA material that makes up chromosomes.
Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF)
Seminal Oxidative Stress (OS)
Reactive Oxygen species (ROS)
are extra testing that shed additional light on the prognosis of
reproductive outcomes in terms of natural conception and assisted reproductive technology.
What are the ideal parameters?
Sperm parameters and minimum reference ranges are set by The World Health Organisation
(WHO). It is important to note that presently the minimum reference range is set at the
lowest 5% and used as the norm in standard semen tests.
Check out the actual reference ranges needed here!
Come chat to us if you’re needing some extra Fertility support.
At Embrace, we integrate Chinese Med and Western Med to give you the best support and knowledge possible.