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Healthy sperm

Tips for keeping your swimmers healthy

Sperm health is one of the most important things to consider when you and your partner decide to try for a baby. In fact, for 40% of infertile couples, the cause of infertility is attributed to a sperm factor.

Sperm is produced on a daily basis through a complex, multi staged process called spermatogenesis. In order to make it to the finish line, your sperm has to make its way through the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes, before it is able to fertilise an egg.

Both the quality and quantity of sperm play a factor in fertility. Medical conditions and lifestyle factors are pivotal for consideration. Lifestyle factors include: obesity, poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and excessive exposure to heat.

5 tips for healthy swimmers:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight range
  • Regular exercise
  • A healthy diet
  • Moderated alcohol consumption
  • Smoking cessation

Not only will these tips help with improving your general health and well being, these lifestyle modifications can help reduce potential negative impacts on sperm health.

Weight and exercise:

Studies have shown that it is harder to conceive when your body mass index (BMI) is higher than 25. Studies have shown that men who are obese or overweight are three times more likely to exhibit a reduction in sperm concentration, sperm motility and abnormal sperm structure. Men who exercise regularly compared to men who don’t, have a higher sperm count because exercise helps to burn fat while boosting testosterone.

Diet and oxidative stress:

Damage to sperm can be caused by oxidative stress from normal activities of daily supplement had a significant increase in conception and live birth rate when compared to those not on oral antioxidants. Antioxidants and minerals that help support sperm health include vitamins C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, lycopene, folic acid, zinc and garlic.y living and lifestyle factors. The net effect of accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical in the body results in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can affect the sperm membrane, which will impact the sperm’s ability to swim and its ability to bind with the egg. It can also affect the sperms DNA material and ultimately compromise fertility and pregnancy.

Exposure to chemicals, toxins or to excessive heat through poor lifestyle choices can all contribute to oxidative stress.

Consuming foods rich in the antioxidant and using preconception support such as the conceivepleaseTM SpermPLus for Men-Only Vitamins to support healthy male fertility can serve as a solution for oxidative stress. Studies show that men who eat antioxidant-rich foods have improved sperm count and motility. Antioxidants are micronutrients that protect the body against damage caused by oxidative stress. Because oxidative processes occur constantly, it is important to consume antioxidant rich foods on a daily basis.

Antioxidants act like scavengers, removing the free radicals and ROS before they cause damage to sperm and its DNA. A large review of 34 studies reported that men who used antioxidant vitamin supplements.