At gravidtid.dk we only deal with valid and scientific research conducted by universities and hospitals. We do this to ensure that we do not pass on knowledge or sell products based on pseudoscience. But what does the research say that you as a man can do or consume if you want to improve your fertility and increase the chance of pregnancy?
First and foremost, it's about having sex at the right times. You can read more about this here: When should I have sex if I want to get pregnant? – Gravidtid
But in addition, itis important first and foremost to recognize that the reason for lack of pregnancy can easily lie with the man. About 4 out of 10 Danish men today have problems with their sperm concentration, which means that they are below the "normal" limit, 40 million sperm per ml. seed. If the sperm concentration falls below 15 million sperm per ml. semen is said to have reduced sperm quality. A large study based on sperm samples from over 40,000 European and North American men 1973 to 2011 shows that the number of men's sperm at ejaculation has decreased with 50% in 40 years.
Sperm quality can be boosted
Fortunately, something can be done, for a man forms new sperm approximately every three months, and those sperm are affected by the lifestyle that he leads during this period. Men produce sperm all their lives and it takes about 3 months for a sperm to mature. During this period, the man can both increase the number of sperm, while he can also work on reducing the number of DNA damage in the sperm, which also has a big impact on the chances of getting a woman pregnant. According to Peter Humaidan, professor of medicine at Aarhus University, the number of DNA breakages in the sperm cells is actually one of the things that has the most to say in relation to the sperm cells' ability to fertilize the woman's eggs. And unlike slow sperm, you can actually do something about DNA breakage in the man's sperm
So what can the man do then? Primarily. Eat according to the Danish Health and Medicines Authority's dietary advice. You can see them here: What does the research say women can do to increase their chances of g – Gravidtid Fertility professor at Rigshospitalet Peter Humaidan has written a book on sperm quality based on research and major national and international study. According to him, the following five things have a particularly large effect.
The 5 most important tips:
1: Quit smoking if you smoke. Smoking increases DNA breakdown in sperm, and a heavy smoker is 50% less likely to get his sexual partner pregnant
2: Exercise. Exercise activates the body's antioxidants, and it also helps prevent DNA breakdown in sperm.
3: Lose weight if you are overweight. Obesity can affect sperm production and reduce sperm quality in men. In addition, being overweight also carries a greater risk of the man's sperm getting too much heat because his testicles get squeezed inside between the veins. Heat also increases the risk of DNA breakage
4: Cut down on alcohol consumption. Alcohol increases the risk of DNA breakdown and affects the amount of sperm. If a man drops the alcohol or reduces intake substantially, one will be able to measure the results after three months. A Danish study with over 1000 young men showed that there is a deterioration in sperm quality with five weekly alcoholic items. If the man drank over 25 items a week, the sperm quality was greatly reduced. In addition, alcohol can also cause impotence and lack of sex drive
5: Dietary supplements. First and foremost, it may well be unnecessary if the man already follows the Danish Health and Medicines Authority's dietary advice, but research has shown, according to Professor Peter Humaidan, that zinc and vitamin D affect sperm quality. The right amount of zinc in the body reduces the number of DNA breaks in the sperm and raises the testosterone level in the body. In relation to vitamin D, research from Rigshospitalet shows that infertile men with vitamin D deficiency experience a beneficial effect on sperm production if they take vitamin D. It may therefore be worthwhile to have the vitamin D and zinc levels measured by the doctor and take these two supplements if a low level is measured.
If you want to measure your sperm quality at home, you can buy a sperm quality test at gravidtid.dk: SwimCount Sædkvalitetstest – Gravidtid
Source: Sjællands Universitetshospital, Rigshospitalet, Sundhedstyrelsen, Supersæd by fertility professor Peter Humaidan from Aarhus University.