Increase sperm

Increase sperm

About human sperm:

Sperm is the male reproductive cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction (forms in which there is a larger, "female" reproductive cell and a smaller, "male" one). ... The human sperm cell is haploid so that its 23 chromosomes can join the 23 chromosomes of the female egg to form a diploid cell.

About increase sperm:

There's also some evidence that vitamin C supplements may improve semen quality. A study in infertile men showed that taking 1,000-mg vitamin C supplements twice a day for up to 2 months increased sperm motility by 92% and sperm count by more than 100%.

How to Increase Sperm Counts?

Healthy sperms are an important factor in male fertility. Sperm count is referred to the average total number of sperm present in one sample of semen. According to the recent World Health Organization guideline, a healthy sperm count is 15 million per milliliters (ml) or 39 million per sample. A sperm count lower than 10 million per ml is considered abnormal and can result in male infertility.

Markers of Sperm Health

Dr. Satya, Chief Infertility & IVF Specialist Explained That “Sperm count is directly associated with sperm health. Before you start thinking to improve your sperm health, let's first understand the markers of sperm health.”  The markers of sperm health include:

• Sperm motility: Sperm mobility refers to sperm movements. Sperms must be able to swim to reach and fertilize the egg.
• Semen Volume: A minimum volume is required to carry the sperms through the female reproductive region. A normal semen volume ranges from 2 to 5 ml per ejaculation.
• Sperm morphology: The average ideal size and shape of the sperm cell in a sample.
• Sperm count: The concentration of sperm cells per ejaculation.

Now, the question arises is, How to increase the sperm count? The answer is not as complicated as we think. You can improve the sperm counts by three methods: Lifestyle changes, Food, and Supplement. However, medication is suggested in the treatment of low sperm counts when the sperm count is too low.

Now, let’s check all one by one.

Lifestyle changes: Current lifestyle is the major factor in both male and female infertility and little change in lifestyle is can take to the door to happiness.

Say NO to:

1. Smoking: In 2016 a study reviewed the result of over 20 studies with nearly 6000 participates that smoking consistently reduces sperm counts.
2. Alcohol: Alcohol is not only injurious to health also to sperms. If you drink alcohol, you need to do so in moderation. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to two drinks per day is considered moderate for men.
3. Drugs: Several prescribed medicines may decrease the healthy product of sperms such as anti-androgens, anti-inflammatories, antipsychotics, corticosteroids, methadone and some antibiotics. Once you stop taking these medicines, your sperm counts return to normal and even can decrease. Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, etc decrease sperm production.
4. Stress: Stress never good for anyone. At the time of stress, the body is less concerned about reproduction and more concerned about surviving. A healthy diet and exercise may help to reduce the stress.
5. Excess weight: A study says,” overweight or obese guys had lower sperm count and decreased motility.
6. Soy: Soya food contains a good amount of phytoestrogens or plants estrogen. Excess of this reduces testosterone bonding and sperm production. So, you need to limit your intake of soy-based foods, such as soya milk, soya sauce, and tofu, etc.

The list is too long, but these are the major things to improve sperm count and health. Above all, there are a few habits to adopt in order to increase sperm counts. Say YES to:

1. Healthy eating: Healthy and balanced diet is key to a healthy body as well as healthy sperm. An unhealthy lifestyle not only affects your overall health but also fertility.
2. Exercise: Exercise not only improves your psychical performance but also raise your testosterone levels. Several studies have shown that exercise can lead to improved sperm quality and can increase sperm counts.
3. Adequate Sleeping: Getting adequate sleep is important to maintaining your health. Restricted or excessive sleep is linked to poor semen quality.
4. Fenugreek Supplements: Fenugreek seed extract may increase testosterone levels, which is directly connected to sperm production. A study in 2017 found that the Fenugreek seeds extract can significantly improve the overall semen quality and sperm count.
5. Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is a herb that has been used in Ayurveda since ancient times. Ashwagandha may boost male fertility by boosting testosterone levels. 675 mg of Ashwagandha root extract per day improves fertility.
6. Healthy fat intake:

Food to improve sperm counts:

Here is a list of foods which have a wide range of health benefits, including the ability to increase the sperm counts:

• Walnuts
• Citrus fruits
• Whole wheat and grains
• Most fish, especially wild salmon, cod, and haddock
• Vitamin D enhanced milk and milk products
• Dark chocolate
• Garlic
• Bananas
• Broccoli: A green vegetable full of folic acid.
• Spinach
• Turmeric Super high in Vitamin C
• Asparagus: Super high in Vitamin C
• fermented nuts and seeds

Medication to improve sperm counts

Doctors may prescribe few medicines to few men as the treatment of low sperm counts if your sperm count is too low. This medication depends on your other health conditions and considerations along with low sperm count.

• Medicines for low sperm counts can include:
• Clomiphene citrate oral (Serophene)
• Serophene oral
• Gonal-f® RFF* Redi-ject® (follitropin alfa or gonal-F) or subcutaneous (under the skin) injections
• Antibiotics if caused by urinary or reproductive tract infection
• Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)
• Letrozole or anastrozole
• Exogenous androgens

Low sperm count is not a disease. Dr. Satya, says, “ low sperm count can be one of the major causes of infertility in males. If the sperm count is between 5 to 10 million per ml then IUI and IVF technique are recommended to these couples to conceive. However, ICSI is more preferable if the sperm count is less than 5 million in the male partners.” Here it is important to notice that the success rate of IVF is better than IUI.

What is normal and abnormal sperm?

Normal sperm have an oval head with a long tail. Abnormal sperm have head or tail defects — such as a large or misshapen head or a crooked or double tail. These defects might affect the ability of the sperm to reach and penetrate an egg. However, having a large percentage of misshapen sperm isn't uncommon. 

7 types of sperm abnormalities:  

1. Aspermia: absence of semen
2. Azoospermia: absence of sperm
3. Hypospermia: low semen volume
4. Hyperspermia: high semen volume
5. Oligozoospermia: Very low sperm count
6. Asthenozoospermia: poor sperm motility
7. Teratozoospermia: sperm carry more morphological defects than usual

1. Aspermia: Aspermia is the rare case of complete lack of semen during ejaculation and is associated with fertility problems. Men who have this order may reach orgasm but no fluid is released. This condition is treatable based on the type and underlying cause.

2. Azoospermia: Azoospermia is the medical condition of a man whose semen contains no sperm. It is associated with infertility, but many forms are amenable to medical treatment. In humans, azoospermia affects about 1% of the male population and may be seen in up to 20% of male infertility situations in Canada.

3. Hypospermia: Hypospermia is a condition in which a man has an unusually low ejaculate (or semen) volume, less than 1.5 mL. It is the logical opposite of hyperspermia. It should not be confused with oligospermia, which means low sperm count.

4. Hyperspermia: In medicine, hyperspermia is a condition in which a male has an abnormally large ejaculate (or semen) volume, and is generally defined in humans when the ejaculate is above 5.5 ml. Males with hyperspermia usually have higher sex drives than males that do not. It is the opposite of hypospermia.

5. Oligozoospermia: Terms oligospermia, oligozoospermia, and low sperm count refer to semen with a low concentration of sperm and is a common finding in male infertility. Often semen with a decreased sperm concentration may also show significant abnormalities in sperm morphology and motility (technically oligoasthenoteratozoospermia).

6. Asthenozoospermia: Asthenozoospermia (or asthenospermia) is the medical term for reduced sperm motility. Complete asthenozoospermia, that is, 100% immotile spermatozoa in the ejaculate, is reported at a frequency of 1 of 5000 men.

7. Teratozoospermia: Teratospermia or teratozoospermia is a condition characterized by the presence of sperm with abnormal morphology that affects fertility in males.

What is normal sperm morphology?

The precise range can vary, but typically a normal or healthy sperm morphology range is between 4 and 14 percent NF (normal forms). A score below 4 percent may mean it takes longer than normal to achieve pregnancy. A result of 0 percent NF usually means in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be necessary for conception.

What is abnormal sperm morphology?

Normal sperm have an oval head with a long tail. Abnormal sperm have head or tail defects — such as a large or misshapen head or a crooked or double tail. These defects might affect the ability of the sperm to reach and penetrate an egg. However, having a large percentage of misshapen sperm isn't uncommon

What is normal sperm morphology treatment for poor?

The two main treatment options for male factor infertility are intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI). IUI involves the process of placing sperm directly into the woman's uterus using a small catheter at the time of her monthly ovulation.

What is abnormal sperm morphology treatment?

Sperm morphology is a term used to describe the appearance (shape and size) of sperm. The shape of sperm is a reflection of proper sperm development (spermatogenesis) in the testicles. Men with defective sperm production may produce a high percentage of abnormal sperm. There are many factors that can lead to the formation of sperm with abnormal morphology. Genetic traits, exposure to toxic chemicals, increased testicular temperature and infection can cause abnormal sperm morphology. The most common cause is attributed to abnormal morphology (shape).

Poor sperm development can lead to teratospermia (also known as abnormal sperm morphology or poor shape) a condition characterized by the presence of a large percentage of sperm with abnormal shape in a man’s ejaculate. This abnormal sperm morphology can negatively impact the chances of conception.

What is normal sperm motility? 

Sperm count: 50 to 200 million per milliliter (m/mL) Sperm motility, or the ability to move rapidly: 60% to 80% actively moving. Sperm morphology, or the sperm's shape and size: 70% to 90% normally shaped.

What is abnormal sperm motility? 

Asthenozoospermia is when a large percentage of sperm movement is not normal, otherwise known as abnormal sperm motility. 2 Normal sperm should move in a progressive direction (defined as "in a straight line" or "very larger circles"). Poor sperm motility usually goes along with low sperm count.

What is the normal sperm count for pregnant a woman?

Normal semen contains 40 million to 300 million sperm per milliliter. A low sperm count is considered to be anything between 10 and 20 million sperm per milliliter. Twenty million sperm per milliliter may be adequate for pregnancy if the sperm are healthy

Normal Sperm Counts:  

A normal sperm count ranges from 15 million sperm to more than 200 million sperm per milliliter (mL) of semen. Anything less than 15 million sperm per milliliter, or 39 million sperm per ejaculate, is considered low. 

• Total sperm count in ejaculate: 39–928 million
• Sperm concentration: 15–259 million per mL
• Sperm morphology: 4–48 percent
• Ejaculate volume: 1.5–7.6 mL
• Total motility (progressive and non-progressive) 40–81 percent
• Progressive motility 32–75 percent

Tips for getting pregnant with low sperm count: 

Overview. If you and your partner are trying to conceive a baby, you may be looking for information about how to increase sperm count to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

• Lose weight.
• Exercise.
• Take your vitamins.
• Avoid substance abuse.
• Check your environment.
• Have your bike checked
• Wear loose, cotton boxers. 

Can a man with zero sperm count get a woman pregnant?

You are considered to have a low sperm count if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter or less than 39 million sperm total per ejaculate. Your chance of getting your partner pregnant decreases with decreasing sperm counts. Some men have no sperm in their semen at all.

Other tests:

Depending on initial findings, your doctor might recommend additional tests to look for the cause of your low sperm count and other possible causes of male infertility. These can include:

• Scrotal ultrasound: This test uses high-frequency sound waves to look at the testicles and supporting structures.
• Hormone testing: Your doctor might recommend a blood test to determine the level of hormones produced by the pituitary gland and testicles, which play a key role in sexual development and sperm production.
• Post-ejaculation urinalysis: Sperm in your urine can indicate your sperm are traveling backward into the bladder instead of out your penis during ejaculation (retrograde ejaculation).
• Genetic tests: When sperm concentration is extremely low, genetic causes could be involved. A blood test can reveal whether there are subtle changes in the Y chromosome — signs of a genetic abnormality. Genetic testing might also be ordered to diagnose various congenital or inherited syndromes.
• Testicular biopsy: This test involves removing samples from the testicle with a needle. The results of the testicular biopsy can tell if sperm production is normal. If it is, your problem is likely caused by a blockage or another problem with sperm transport. However, this test is typically only used in certain situations and is not commonly used to diagnose the cause of infertility.
• Anti-sperm antibody tests: These tests, which are used to check for immune cells (antibodies) that attack sperm and affect their ability to function, are not common.
• Specialized sperm function tests: A number of tests can be used to check how well your sperm survive after ejaculation, how well they can penetrate an egg, and whether there's any problem attaching to the egg. These tests are rarely performed and often do not significantly change treatment recommendations.
• Transrectal ultrasound: A small lubricated wand is inserted into your rectum to check your prostate and check for blockages of the tubes that carry semen (ejaculatory ducts and seminal vesicles).

Treatment

Treatments for low sperm count include:

• Surgery: For example, a varicocele can often be surgically corrected or an obstructed vas deferens can be repaired. Prior vasectomies can be reversed. In cases where no sperm are present in the ejaculate, sperm can often be retrieved directly from the testicles or epididymis using sperm retrieval techniques.
• Treating infections: Antibiotics can cure an infection of the reproductive tract, but this doesn't always restore fertility.
• Treatments for sexual intercourse problems: Medication or counseling can help improve fertility in conditions such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
• Hormone treatments and medications: Your doctor might recommend hormone replacement or medications in cases where infertility is caused by high or low levels of certain hormones or problems with the way the body uses hormones.
• Assisted reproductive technology (ART): ART treatments involve obtaining sperm through normal ejaculation, surgical extraction, or from donor individuals, depending on your specific situation and wishes. The sperm is then inserted into the female genital tract, or used for IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Lifestyle and home remedies:

There are steps you can take at home to increase your chances of getting your partner pregnant, including:

• Increasing the frequency of sex. Having sexual intercourse every day or every other day beginning at least four days before ovulation increases your chances of getting your partner pregnant.
• Having sex when fertilization is possible. A woman is likely to become pregnant during ovulation — which occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, between periods. This will ensure that sperm, which can live several days, are present when conception is possible.
• Avoiding lubricants. Some products such as Astroglide or K-Y jelly, lotions, and saliva might impair sperm movement and function. Ask your doctor about sperm-safe lubricants.

Alternative medicine: 

Supplements with studies showing potential benefits on improving sperm count or quality include:

• Black seed (nigella sativa)
• Coenzyme Q10
• Folic acid
• Horse chestnut (aescin)
• L-carnitine
• Panax ginseng
• Zinc

Talk with your doctor before taking dietary supplements to review the risks and benefits of this therapy, as some supplements taken in high doses (megadoses) or for extended periods of time might be harmful.

Preparing for your appointment:

You should start with your family doctor or a different provider. However, he or she might refer you to an infertility specialist.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do:

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions: At the time you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as refraining from ejaculating for a certain period of time or stopping certain medications.
• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that might seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Find out whether you have a family history of fertility problems. Having a male blood relative, such as your brother or father, with fertility problems or other reproductive issues might give clues to the cause of low sperm count.
• Find out from your parents if you had undescended testes or other issues at birth or in early childhood.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements that you're taking.
• Take your partner along. Even if you have a low sperm count, your partner also might need tests to see whether she has any problems that could be preventing pregnancy. It's also good to have your partner along to help keep track of any instructions your doctor gives you or to ask questions you may not think of.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What do you suspect might be causing my low sperm count?
• Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible reasons my partner and I haven't been able to conceive a child?
• What kinds of tests do I need?
• Will my partner also need tests?
• What treatments are available to increase my sperm count? Which do you recommend?
• Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
• At what point should we consider other alternatives, such as a sperm donor or adoption?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?

Don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Some questions your doctor may ask you include:

• At what age did you start puberty?
• Have you had a vasectomy or a vasectomy reversal?
• Do you use illicit drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, or anabolic steroids?
• Have you been exposed to toxins such as chemicals, pesticides, radiation, or lead, especially on a regular basis?
• Are you currently taking any medications, including dietary supplements?
• Do you have a history of undescended testicles?

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