It takes two to tango!

Unfortunately, even in this day and age, male fertility is a HUGE blind spot from a medical perspective.

There is no doubt that this area deserves much more attention than it has previously been given. After all, it takes two to tango, right?

And there is without a doubt, so much that natural medicine can do for male fertility!

It blows my mind, from the clients that I have seen for fertility support, that there has almost never been investigation into the male partner and their sperm health by other practitioners those couples have seen. Even when there is no explanation as to why the female cannot conceive.

How the heck can this be ignored?

You see, the analysis of semen is actually considered a biomarker of male health. Let’s put it this way – whatever you know to be bad for your health (think poor food choices, smoking, lack of exercise – the basics!) is considerably worse for your sperm health. Those little fellas are so incredibly vulnerable!

Additionally, after conception has occurred, the health of sperm can influence the risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia in the mother (yes – the biological father’s health can affect the mother’s maternal health too!), compromised metabolic health of the child, increase pre-term birth and low birth weight and an increase in neonatal intensive care admissions for baby.

The problem of male health and subsequently sperm health, is undeniably worsening.

In a study which concluded in 2011 (reported in 2017), it was headlined that sperm counts have halved in the preceding 40 years. Halved. That is huge! The emphasis from the results of this study were put on the declining health of the general Western male population.

So let’s briefly talk about some of the factors that can influence sperm health …

Hormone disruptors

These nasties are absolutely everywhere! They can be in household cleaners, air fresheners, skin care products, hair care products, personal hygiene products (such as soaps, shampoo, deodorants, shaving creams and lotions), chemicals used in the garage at home, gardening products (such as pesticides and herbicides). I could just keep going and going…

The use of pharmaceuticals medications, which are (incorrectly) seen to be relatively safe, such as aspirin and paracetamol, are also both disruptive to male hormones. They can also have significant impact on testicular cancer risk in utero.

What can you do – use natural products. We are in an age where natural products are now everywhere – natural deodorants, air fresheners, household cleaners, hygiene products can be found conveniently on supermarket shelves. Use this to your advantage! Be more conscious when buying garage and garden chemicals – use non-toxic products!

Lifestyle factors

These are factors that come under the headings of diet, exercise (or lack thereof), obesity, paternal age and stress.

All of these factors can cause changes to DNA of the sperm. Yes – the food choices you make can affect the DNA of your sperm!

Sperm are unbelievably vulnerable to damage once they leave the testes and are totally reliant on the environment they are in, to survive. This means that if you do not provide your body with enough anti-oxidant support for the survival of the sperm health, the length of their existence significantly declines. Anti-oxidant support can be increased by incorporating a colourful array of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and foods containing zinc (oily fish, shellfish particularly oysters, pepitas, whole grains).

Additionally, for those fathers who smoke, the risk of childhood and adulthood cancers for baby, increases by 4-fold. Enough said about that!

As for exercise, this is obviously a positive influence. However, there are studies that report cycling to have negative outcomes on sperm health due to a significantly higher risk of poor sperm production in men who do endurance cycling.

Saunas and hot baths can also influence sperm health and should be limited to only a couple of hours per week for potential fathers-to-be.

What can you do – eat a Mediterranean style diet. This includes oily fish, lean proteins, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, a large array of vegetables and fruits and healthy fats such as olive oil and avocado. If you are into cycling, limiting the amount of cycling you do in a week to a maximum of a few hours. And I hope don’t need to talk about the avoidance of smoking!

Environmental factors

Second-hand smoke can be just as detrimental as first-hand smoking.

~Are you exposing yourself to second-hand smoke?

~What occupation do you have?

~What type of environment is your home located in?

There are also studies that report exposure to traffic exhaust fumes, combustion products, dioxins, pesticides, pollutants all have negative outcomes on sperm production and/or sperm health.

What can you do - ask yourself ….Can these factors be changed?

Genetic factors

In some cases, there are genetic influences over sperm health. But this is not the case in the majority of males.

The father’s sperm are actually produced within cells (Sertoli cells) that are mostly determined by the time they themselves are 7-8 weeks gestation (as their mother’s embryo) as well as by testosterone production within puberty. Once the production of sperm has begun, at the time they reach puberty, there are no additional Sertoli cells produced.

Testicular size can determine the potential of sperm cells.

There are also a number of other genetic malformations that can affect the production and/or health of sperm cells such as hypogonadism or undescended testes, among others.

Nutritional support

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has a role in hormone synthesis and low may be associated with low levels of testosterone.

Vitamin D is also vital for the synthesis of sperm.

Sources – mackerel, herring, kipper, salmon, sardines, eggs, butter, cod liver oil, sunlight

Folate

Not only is it great for supporting female fertility, low folate is also associated with low sperm counts.

Sources – liver, wheatgerm, asparagus, lettuce, dark leafy green vegetables, lentils, legumes,

broccoli, nuts

Vitamin B12

An important nutrient in DNA replication and goes hand in hand together with adequate

folate.

Sources – liver, kidney, molasses, poultry, crustaceans, fish, eggs

Selenium

Once they leave the testes, sperm are so incredibly vulnerable in their environment. Selenium is a potent antioxidant which helps them succeed on their journey.

Where there are heavy metals present that need to be removed, Selenium is also extremely helpful.

Sources – brazil nuts, poultry, wholegrains, shellfish, fish, molasses, cashews, eggs, garlic, broccoli, apple cider vinegar, scallops, brown rice, turnips, barley, mushrooms, turkey, chicken, radish, pecan, hazelnuts

Zinc

One of the most important nutrients in make fertility support!

Zinc is essential for the formation and maturation of sperm and its low levels are associated with low sperm count and poor sperm motility.

The testes also have the highest concentrations of zinc, than any other organ in the male body.

As the sperm are so incredibly vulnerable, Zinc’s antioxidant capacity protects them from heavy metals, fluoride, environmental toxins, and oxidative stress.

Zinc is also involved in multiple actions related to male hormones.

Sources – Oysters, shellfish, fish, red meat, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, almonds, walnuts, muesli, wheatgerm, ginger, pecans, wholegrains, sardines, split peas.

Lycopene

Lycopene is a nutrient with anti-oxidant activity that are found in high concentrations in the testes and semen.

In previous studies where men have taken lycopene, they have experienced improvements in sperm concentrations and motility. Some had also shown improvements in sperm morphology.

Sources - tomato particularly cooked tomato (it increases in content as the tomatoes cook!)

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So, you might ask yourself, when is it time to see a Natural Health Practitioner?

In more cases than not, couples who are seeking support for fertility are also seeing a natural health practitioner as well.

Are you trying to conceive and doing all the right things, but you need extra support?

Do you have concerns about your general health or the health of your sperm?

If you answered ‘yes’ to the above, then head to my BOOK NOW page for that additional support you need. I am here for you!

Bec x