The male’s contribution to conceiving is quite amazing and significant. About 200 million sperm are mixed with semen to form ejaculate. Although 15 to 45 million of these sperm are healthy enough to fertilize an egg, only 400 survive in the female reproductive tract after a man ejaculates. Of those 400 sperm, only 40 reach the vicinity of the egg. After another process called capacitation occurs (an explosion that allows the sperm to drill a hole through the tough outer layer of the egg), only one sperm reaches the egg for fertilization and conception. Interesting enough, in about 30% to 40% of infertile couples, the man is the sole cause of the inability to conceive, and in another 30%-40%, he is the co-contributing factor.
Top Causes of Male Infertility
- Low sperm count
- Slow sperm progressive motility (movement)
- Abnormal morphology (abnormalities in the shape and size of sperm)
- Problems with semen (infection, volume)
What Men Can Do to Boost Fertility
- Stop smoking cigarettes and marijuana. Both have been linked to low sperm counts and slower motility as well as abnormally shaped sperm.
- Lower your alcohol consumption. Alcohol can drastically reduce the production of healthy, viable sperm that are needed for conception to occur.
- Maintain a healthy weight. This goes for both underweight and overweight men! Too much weight can lead to hormonal disturbances, but when a man is too lean, he can have decreased sperm count and lower motility.
- Exercise in moderation. Exercise too much, and you might lower your sperm count indirectly by lowering the amount of testosterone in your body.
- Do not take testosterone or other anabolic steroids as they can lower sperm count and irreversibly damage the testicle.
- Take your vitamins. Boost fertility with vitamins such as vitamin C and zinc, and if needed, talk to your doctor about male fertility supplements and vitamins which can increase the amount of healthy sperm.
- Avoid environmental toxins and poisons (pesticides, insecticides, lead, radiation, or heavy metals) as they can lead to an increased risk of infertility.
Living a healthy lifestyle is just as important for men as it is for women when it comes to conceiving, and just making a few important changes to your daily routine can make a world of difference. If you and your spouse have been having problems conceiving and would like to schedule a consultation with one of our top fertility physicians at any of our IVF Florida locations, please call us today at 866.770.2168.
By
Dr. David Hoffman at 29 Jun 2017
Trying to conceive? South Florida’s reproductive specialist, Dr. David Hoffman, answers some common questions on how to best navigate the season of sniffles.
Q: Is it a good idea to get the flu vaccine while undergoing fertility treatment?
A: It is important for all individuals to get the flu vaccine as the benefit of the vaccine in reducing the risk of getting the flu far outweighs the risk of the vaccine. This is especially important to couples that are undergoing fertility treatment as getting the flu during treatment might result in cancellation of the cycle, adversely affect the sperm and/or delay embryo transfer.
Q:What are the different types of flu vaccines available? Is there one that is a better choice for those trying to conceive?
A: There are 2 types of vaccines that are available. The first is injectable and utilizes killed virus from strains that are expected to be the predominant strain for that year. This enables you immune system to make antibodies against the virus to reduce your likelihood of getting the flu. The injection is given either in the muscle which is the preferred route or under the skin - subcutaneous. This vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women as well. The other vaccine is given in the nose by a spray (intranasal). This vaccine utilizes attenuated live virus (actual flu virus that is grown in culture to significantly reduce the risk of infection) and also enables your immune system to make antibodies against the virus to reduce your likelihood of getting the flu. This vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women, but is given to young children. The injectable vaccine usually causes soreness at the site of injection and will not give you the flu. It is important when getting the injectable vaccine to answer several questions to reduce allergic reactions or see if you would be better to receive the intranasal preparation. Some individuals that receive the intranasal get mild flu-like symptoms that can be treated with Tylenol and rest.
Q: For those undergoing IVF who do come down with the flu, what are the possible complications?
A: Getting the flu can be very serious with lost days from work, possible hospitalization and a very small percentage of individuals can get Guillain-Barré syndrome which can result in paralysis (source: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/detail_gbs.htm). The flu virus still results in many deaths worldwide. If you contract the flu, you can be treated with antiviral medications provided it is within the first 48 hours. These medications reduce the duration and severity of the illness. Speak with your healthcare provider.
Q:Is it necessary to get the vaccine if you got it last year?
A: Even if you have received the vaccine the previous year it is important to get the vaccine every year as immunity does not last longer that the flu season (approximately 9 months) and the strains vary from year to year. Now is the time to take action and get the vaccine. We, as healthcare providers get the vaccine every year and encourage all of our staff and patients to do so as well.
For more information on the flu vaccine and fertility or to schedule an appointment with one of the fertility experts at IVF FLORIDA call 866.770.2168 or click here.
By
Dr. David Hoffman at 13 Oct 2016
South Florida’s CBS4-Miami recently featured IVF FLORIDA in a story on the use of EmbryoScopes, a new incubator technology that dramatically improves the success of fertility treatment. Fertility specialist Dr. David Hoffman talks about this “game-changing” technology that allows stronger embryos to be chosen, decreases the risk for multiples and provides new hope for couples struggling with infertility. IVF FLORIDA is proud to be one of only 12 Fertility Centers nationwide and the only one in the state of Florida with EmbryoScope technology.
VIEW THE VIDEO HERE
By
Dr. David Hoffman at 15 Apr 2014