Natural, Social, and Lifestyle Recommendations to Optimize Male Reproductive Health by Katherine Rotker, MD, and Stanton Honig, MD
Patients may consider nutritional and lifestyle options to improve their chances of achieving a pregnancy. A healthy lifestyle can be helpful in general and has been associated with improved sperm parameters and fertility. Often, lifestyle choices that are bad for general health may also contribute to abnormal sperm quality. By making healthy lifestyle choices, it is possible to have some improvement in reproductive function. The data for much of the nutritional and lifestyle recommendations are limited and show mixed results. However, anything that you do that is good for your general health, will be good for sperm. There are no “magic bullets” to boost male fertility, but male reproduction may be improved by doing as much as you can to live healthy.
We Recommend:
| Eliminating Tobacco | Tobacco use, specifically cigarette smoking has negative effects on male fertility. |
| Limiting Alcohol | Consumption of more than 1-2 drinks per day can have a negative effect on sperm. |
| Avoiding Heat Exposure | Avoid exposures to prolonged heat, so do not rest laptop in genital area for long periods of time. Hot tub use should be restricted to temperatures 97 degrees or lower. |
| Diversifying Diet | Eat more green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish and focus on eating a balanced diet as this will include most vitamins, minerals, and supplements that are important to male fertility; minimize soy intake as large amounts of soy are thought to contain substances that can elevate estrogen levels which may negatively impact male fertility. Dramatic or quick weight loss has been shown to be detrimental to sperm in one study. Therefore, if weight reduction is planned, it should be done in a reasonable time frame over many months. |
| Reducing Stress | Practice stress reduction techniques and seek counseling if stress cannot be self-reduced. |
| Being Mindful of Medication | Certain medications can affect sperm quality; tell your doctor all the medications you are taking as sometimes they may be adjusted to improve fertility potential. |
| Regulating Exercise | Regular exercise is good, but excessive training (such as for marathons) can result in hormone imbalances that may affect fertility in a negative way. |
| Discussing Sexual Concerns | Address any sexual issues (such as erectile dysfunction) with your doctor as they often can be easily treated and resolved. |
| Avoiding Illicit Drugs | Drugs such as cocaine and marijuana, as well as performance enhancers (steroids, such as testosterone) will have negative effects on sperm. Specifically, any use of anabolic steroids that contain testosterone will lower sperm counts and can even drop sperm counts to zero. |
Vitamins and Supplements:
It is thought taking some vitamins may help your chances of improving sperm quality and quantity. This is believed to work because they can block substances called "free radicals." When the body is injured, cells release these free radicals. Free radicals are the result of the conversion of oxygen to a substance that is damaging to healthy tissue. Infertile men tend to have a higher concentration of free radicals in their semen as compared to fertile men. Free radicals attack healthy substances such as sperm and may injure the sperm. Substances that prevent this damage are called antioxidants. They may be natural and present in certain foods (pomegranates, some grape juice, etc.) or may be found in some vitamins. Vitamin C and Vitamin E are antioxidants.
We suggest:
- Vitamin C 500-1000 mg per day
- Vitamin E 400-800 I.U. per day
Do not take excessive vitamins as larger quantities may be dangerous!! Please notify your doctor of any other dietary supplements you may be taking since some may actually have a negative effect on male fertility.
There is some evidence that the dietary supplement, CARNITINE may play a role in some important functions of sperm. Carnitines taken in the dosage of 3 grams/day have been shown in some studies to improve sperm quality. Note this supplement usually comes in low doses (often 500 mg/each pill).
Most other supplements (such as zinc, selenium, folate, coenzyme Q-10) are not necessary if you are eating a balanced diet since most of these supplements will be in relatively healthy foods.
Lubricants
DO NOT USE saliva or over the counter lubricants such as KY Jelly, Astroglide, or Surgilube. There is an over-the-counter lubricant called Pre-Seed, that has been shown in studies to be VERY SAFE for sperm.
Stanton Honig, MD Professor of Clinical Urology
Yale Medicine Urology, 330 Orchard Street, Suite 164 New Haven, CT 06511