Whether you are just starting to try and get pregnant, or have been trying to conceive for a long time, acknowledging some bad habits and making appropriate changes to take care of yourself may help to increase your fertility. While lifestyle habits usually are not the only cause of infertility, a few changes could possibly push you over the “infertile” line, especially if the health of your sperm is considered borderline. Making important lifestyle changes could also possibly help fertility treatments work better…
Treating underlying medical conditions may help increase your fertility. Untreated diabetes may lead to infertility, which can cause retrograde ejaculation. (Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen, which would normally be ejaculated through the urethra, is redirected to the urinary bladder.) Even if you are without symptoms, you might want to get your blood sugars tested, especially if you have been diagnosed with retrograde ejaculation. Close to one-third of people with diabetes are unaware that they even have the disease.
An untreated urinary tract infection or an infection of the reproductive system can cause infertility in men. For example, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may lead to reduced sperm motility, and scarring often occurs after repeated STDs. Any scarring that happens can block the passage of semen. It is important to note that some infections have no symptoms besides infertility.
There are a number of other medical conditions that can lead to infertility such as Crohn’s disease, anemia, thyroid disease, celiac disease, and Cushing’s syndrome. These diseases are not always easy to diagnose and so they are commonly missed. It’s not uncommon, for example, for someone to walk around with thyroid problems for years before getting an accurate diagnosis.
It is important to get a wellness check with your primary care physician before you start trying to conceive. It is also essential that, if you suspect something is not quite right with how you’re feeling, you voice these concerns with your doctor during your wellness check. It is quite possible that the nagging fatigue that never seems to leave may actually be something more than not getting enough sleep at night.
Believe it or not, keeping your teeth and gums healthy may help increase your fertility. Bacteriospermia, which is the presence of bacteria in semen, has been linked to male infertility. In an important research study, 23% of men with bacteria present in their semen did not improve after treatment with antibiotics alone.
The researchers conducted dental exams on some of the men who did not improve with antibiotics, and found untreated dental problems present in each of them. In a test group, the patients’ dental problems were treated. In the control group, no care was given to address any dental problems. Six months after dental treatment, researchers tested the semen again. Interestingly, two-thirds of the test group had improved semen health, while those in the control group who had not been treated still had poor semen health.
No one likes to go to the dentist, however increasing your fertility is just one more reason to make and keep that dreaded appointment every six months.
There are many different reasons why you should quit smoking, and you have probably heard them all. If you haven’t been convinced yet, now you have one more reason to do so; kicking the habit may very well increase your fertility.
Research studies on smoking and semen quality have shown that smoking actually impacts quite a few aspects of sperm health, such as sperm shape, lowered sperm count, and decreased sperm motility (the swimming ability of the sperm). If you’re going through fertility treatments, don’t think that you’re off the hook and can continue to smoke. Researchers have also found that smoking has a powerful, negative effect on treatment success, especially when using IVF with ICSI fertility treatments.
When was the last time you stepped on the scale? Are you under or overweight? Check regularly to make sure your body weight is in the healthy zone. If you or your doctor determines that your weight is too high or too low, it is time to bring it back to a healthier level. Being over or underweight can upset hormone balance, leading to lower sperm counts.
It is easy to determine if your weight is within the healthy zone, by checking your body mass index (BMI). Your BMI is a measurement of your weight that also takes into account your height. There are several BMI calculators posted online that you can use to “get your numbers.”
Studies have found that thin men with a BMI less than 20 had lower sperm concentration and a 28.1% lower total sperm count. These same studies also found that FSH, a hormone that has a significant role in the reproductive system, was higher in slim men. In a different study, overweight/obese men were found to have lower testosterone levels. Research studies also found that as BMI levels went up, the incidence of lower sperm counts went up. Research found that only 5.32% of men with a normal BMI were found to have low sperm count. In overweight men, however, almost 10% had low sperm counts; in obese men, more than 16% were found to have low sperm counts.
The bottom line is that with a few lifestyle changes (some may be relatively easy while others could be fairly demanding), you can improve your chances of conception. If, after making relevant lifestyle changes, you and your partner continue to have trouble conceiving, it is probably time to make an appointment with a reproductive specialist. Take control of your fertility and make an appointment with one of our compassionate and highly trained infertility doctors. CORM serves the greater southeast Texas area with state-of-the-art fertility clinics in Webster and Beaumont with specialists who will work diligently to give life to your dreams. The professional staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine will listen closely and help you choose the most appropriate fertility program for your individual reproductive medical needs.