What Are the Ways to Maintain a Man’s Fertility?

Approximately five million people, or 1 in 10 couples, have problems with fertility. Though it is commonly believed that infertility is a woman’s problem, it is actually a commonly shared issue between both men and women. In fact, about one third of infertility cases treated in the United States are associated with male infertility.

4 effective ways to maintain a man’s fertility

Though many men may not realize it, the food they eat, the beverages they drink, and other lifestyle choices significantly affect the quality of their sperm. Here are easy, effective ways to maintain a man’s fertility:

• Eat a healthy diet
  Men who eat a regular diet of whole grains, fruits and green leafy vegetables tend to have more numerous and more motile sperm. Antioxidants can help protect sperm DNA from damage and boost a man’s fertility.
• Get in shape
  Being overweight reduces sperm quality. Obesity may be equally to blame in reducing a man’s fertility and the overall health of the embryo, which may affect the success of assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization.
• Get enough rest
  Sleep affects a man’s fertility by impacting his testosterone levels. Optimal sleep for fertility is between 7 and 8 hours a night.
• Quit smoking
  Men who smoke may have less sperm motility than non-smokers.

If you have made these important lifestyle changes and are still unable to conceive, you may want to talk to your doctor about the fertility treatments available to you and your partner.

Artificial reproductive therapy can help you conceive

For cases of male infertility, Reproductive Gynecology & Fertility offers intrauterine or “artificial” insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Once the eggs are retrieved from the female as part of the IVF treatment, one of our highly skilled embryologists will select a single healthy sperm and inject it directly into the egg. This process, known as ICSI, effectively fertilizes the egg. After a brief incubation period, the embryo is then transferred to the woman’s uterus. The female’s hormone levels and embryo are then monitored very closely through the first trimester to ensure success.

If you and your partner are struggling with infertility, the reproductive specialists at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility offer complete fertility services in Columbus, Canton, Youngstown and Akron. If you’d like to know if IVF with ICSI is right for you, call 866-537-2461.