Male fertility: 10 tips for men trying to conceive

Female and male fertility are required for a baby to be born. A man has a crucial role in the delivery of a child. His sperm must be strong and healthy to reach and penetrate the woman's egg.

To make fertilization happen, a man must be able to have and keep an erection, have enough sperm that are the right shape and move in the right way, and have enough semen to carry the sperm to the egg. Male fertility can be a problem in this process.

A variety of factors can affect a man's fertility, so it's difficult to find the exact cause of infertility. 40 percent of infertile couples have problems with the male partner due to a known cause of infertility.

1. Lose extra pounds

Man exercising

Losing weight can improve sperm quality. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Studies have shown that couples with a man who is overweight or obese take longer to have a baby. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, research has shown that being overweight or obese can affect a man's sperm quality, sperm count, and ability to swim.

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A 2012 study found that overweight and obese men were more likely to have low sperm counts or a lack of viable sperm compared with normal-weight men. The researchers suspected that too much body fat was linked to changes in testosterone and reproductive hormone levels in men.

The World Journal of Men's Health suggests that managing chronic medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, may improve a man's chances of getting pregnant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, male fertility can be affected by medical conditions such as varicoceles, which can cause overheating in the scrotum. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some medications used to treat high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety, could have a negative influence on fertility.

Sperm production can be decreased by supplemental testosterone. According to the Mayo Clinic, some cancer treatments can cause infertility. A man should talk to his doctor if he is taking medication that might affect his ability to father a child.

3. Eat healthy foods

Man eating healthily

Antioxidants and fiber can improve male fertility. (Image credit: Getty Images)

The role of diet in male fertility is unclear. It makes sense for men to eat a variety of healthy foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich sources of antioxidants that may help to produce healthy sperm. Men should eat a lot of fiber-rich foods, healthy monounsaturated fats, and moderate amounts of lean protein.

Men frequently ask if drinking soda can affect their sperm counts. He tells them there is no good evidence that coffee and energy drinks cause fertility problems in men.

4. Get regular physical activity

According to a study published in the journal Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, being physically active is beneficial.

Bike riding involves long periods of sitting in a position that increases scrotal temperatures as well as bouncing and vibrations that could cause trauma to the testicles, so researchers have looked at whether the sport can affect sperm. Some studies suggest that long-distance truck drivers may have more fertility problems than male cyclists.

One study found that men who attended fertility clinics were more likely to have low sperm counts and poor sperm motility compared to men who did other forms of exercise.

5. Increase vitamin intake

man with vitamins

Some vitamins may improve sperm quality. (Image credit: Getty Images)

There is little chance of harm and some potential benefits when it comes to taking a daily multivitamin. According to The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, some research has found that there may be a slight increase in sperm count. It makes sense that sperm quality could be improved by protecting against free radicals, which can cause damage to sperm cells.

Men have a biological clock, but they experience fertility declines later in life than women do, according to a 2020 article. As a man gets older, the volume and quality of his semen tend to diminish. As men get older, there is a decline in the number of healthy sperm and their movement, and they can also have more damage to their sperm.

It might take a couple more time to have a baby. The risk of genetic abnormality in their sperm is higher with age. Older fathers are more likely to pass on more genetic changes to their children as the years go by.

7. Stop smoking

Cigarette breaking

Smoking can impact sperm quality. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Male smokers are more likely to have low sperm counts and have higher numbers of abnormal-shaped sperm, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Marijuana and other recreational drug use should be avoided because some studies suggest they may negatively impact sperm production.

8. Boxers or briefs?

This is everyone's favorite question. There isn't much science to suggest that changing from briefs to boxers improves a couple's chances of getting pregnant. Most studies have shown no difference between boxers and briefs in terms of their impact on male fertility.

A 2016 study found that it really didn't make a difference if a man wore boxers or briefs, or if he went for sex with someone.

9. Beware of the heat

Sperm illustration

Heat can temporarily lower sperm numbers (Image credit: Getty Images)

Frequent visits to and long stays in hot tub, saunas and steam rooms could increase scrotal temperatures, which may decrease sperm counts and sperm quality.

The study about men using laptops received a lot of media attention when it reported that men who put the computers on their laps may have damaged sperm. It is not known how much time the men spent with the laptop in close proximity to their testicles, and it is not known if the effects were caused by heat or radiation.

10. Know when to get help

According to The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility is the inability of a sexually active couple who are not using birth control to get pregnant after one year of trying. A woman who is under the age of 35 and her partner should try to have a baby for a year without success before seeking an infertility evaluation, according to Robins. For women who are 35 or older, the time before seeing an infertility specialist shortens to 6 months in couples who are having sex regularly without using birth control.

Additional resources

The U.K. National Health Service has more information about how to improve male fertility. You can read more about male reproduction in the Encyclopedia of Reproduction.

Bibliography

Male fertility and hypertension. The World Journal of Men's Health is a journal.

The impact of an ultra marathon on men's health. The article is titled Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.

Men attending an infertility clinic have physical activity and semen quality. There is an article about fertility and sterlity.

Smoking and infertility. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

The article is only for informational purposes and not for medical advice.