Coping with male infertility
"Normal" sperm count, as defined by the World Health Organisation is characterized by:
- The concentration of spermatozoa should be at least 20 million per ml
- The total volume of semen should be at least 2ml
- The total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate should be at least 40 million
- At least 75% of the spermatozoa should be alive (it is normal for up to 25 per cent to be dead)
- At least 30% of the spermatozoa should be of normal shape and form
- At least 25% of the spermatozoa should be swimming with rapid forward movement
- At least 50% of the spermatozoa should be swimming forward, even if only sluggishly
- Infected semen
- Heat that minimises sperm count. Some ways of loosing sperm due to heat are by wearing tight underpants, bathing in hot water, sitting in hot tub for long hours, being overweight
- Repeated ejaculation over a short duration of time.
- Increased masturbation
- Smoking
- Increased alcohol consumption
- Excessive physical or mental exertion
- Zinc deficiency
- Anabolic steroid use
- Deformed genitals
- Prostrate gland disorders
- Harmful or toxic pollutants
- Exercise. Regular exercise will help reduce stress, but be careful. Excessive exercise can cause harm, as can certain exercises that may negatively impact the testicles, such as bicycling.
- Ejaculating less often. The more often a man ejaculates, the less dense the semen will be. Maintain a gap of three days between ejaculations.
- Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Massage body with herbal oil, which may improve blood circulation.
- Have sex in the early morning or afternoon. It is believed that sperm levels are often highest in the morning.
- Avoid tight underwear, saunas and whirlpools — all of which may increase the temperature of the testicles.
- Use natural supplements and vitamins that may assist with sperm count.
- Maintain a high protein, low fat diet, rich in vegetables and whole grains. Avoid bitter and spicy foods, eat pumpkin seeds. They are naturally high in zinc and essential fatty acids which are vital to healthy functioning of the male reproductive system. Eat pumpkin seeds to help maintain a healthy reproductive system.
There are few supplements that may increase sperm count and/or motility. Allow 3-4 months for the supplements to work. They are Arginine, Coenzyme Q10, Flaxseed oil, L-carnitine, multivitamin-mineral supplements, Selenium, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc. Ask your physician for these supplements. The writer is a teacher in Dhaka Medical College. E-mail: abeddmc@yahoo.com
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