Six easy ways to boost male fertility levels

Every man (and woman) should be interested in these facts.

by ROSALIND RYAN, femail.co.uk

Wear boxer shorts

Keeping the testicles cool is vital to maintaining healthy sperm production. But wearing tight jeans or underpants keeps the testicles too close to the body, raising their temperature which slows down the rate of sperm production.

A study by the University of Milan found that men wearing tight briefs were nearly twice as likely to be infertile as men who wore looser styles of underpants.

Fertility experts say switching to boxer shorts and wearing looser clothing will help keep the testicles cool, boosting sperm production.

If you work in a job involving high temperatures, such as welding, Diane Arnold, spokeswoman for the National Fertility Association, recommends spraying the testicles once a day with cool water if possible and taking tepid, not hot baths at night. 

Eat more zinc

Zinc is involved in sperm production and also plays a role in 'activating' the sperm. Nutritionists believe that taking just 15mg a day the daily recommended amount can help repair the damage caused to sperm by harmful chemicals absorbed from the environment.

Rich sources of zinc in the diet include seafood, particularly oysters (this is how they gained their reputation as an aphrodisiac) red meat, whole grains and pulses. You can also find it in smaller amounts in some dairy products, such as cheese.

If you want to take a zinc supplement, alternative health experts advise a supplement of no more than 30mg a day and this should be taken in conjunction with a copper supplement, usually 1.5mg.

This is because consuming more than half a gram of zinc every day can interfere with the way the body metabolises copper. Some zinc tablets are combined with copper to make them easier to take. 

Stop smoking and drinking

Numerous studies have found that smoking damages the sperm membrane, making it 'lazy' and affecting its ability to reach an egg. Smoking can also alter sperm DNA which can cause birth defects in babies.

Male impotence is also linked to smoking. A recent review of various studies on impotence published since 1980 found that 40 per cent

Drinking can cause a drop in sperm levels

of impotent men were smokers compared to 28 per cent of men in the general population.

This is because smoking can cause the blood vessels to narrow, making it difficult for blood to be delivered to genitals, triggering impotence.

Alcohol can also affect sperm production. Drinking more than eight units of alcohol in 48 hours - enough to cause a hangover - can lower testosterone levels by up to 20 per cent even 12 hours after you stopped drinking.

Beer and lager may be a particular problem because they contain plant oestrogens. These can mimic female hormones and can trigger infertility in men. 

Drink bottled water

Drinking one-and-a-half to two liters of fluid every day is vital to maintaining a healthy body, but it is important to watch exactly what you are drinking.

In some studies, samples of tap water were found to contain traces of the female hormone oestrogen. This could be from oestrogens found in the environment, but also from recycled water.

As more women are now using the Pill, traces of the hormones used in the contraceptive can be recycled back into the water system, raising oestrogen levels in tap water. Drinking bottled water limits your risk of exposure to more female hormones

Caffeine, found in coffee and many cola drinks, can also slow down sperm production and can contribute to high stress levels. 

Think about becoming a father

Researchers in Portugal have discovered that men who were trying to become a father could increase their chances of success just by thinking about it.

They found that men who wanted to become fathers were better at coordinating sex with their partners during peak testosterone levels than men who did not want to conceive.

High testosterone levels help boost sperm production and improves the health of the sperm, increasing the chances of conceiving. 

Go organic

Farmers exposed to pesticides can suffer from falling fertility levels, but this risk can be carried over onto the food they produce.

Animal studies have found that one crop spray, HPTE, can stop testosterone production for more than 17 hours after exposure. To limit your risk of exposure, fertility experts are advising men to either scrub fruit and vegetables before eating them or switch to organic food.

Lets stay healthy and productive.