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9 Things You Didn’t Know About Sperm Quality

9 facts about sperm quality

Here at ManorIVF we see many, many patients from all over of the globe. Regardless of where someone is from, their background or their ethnicity, up to 1 in 3 couples who are having trouble conceiving find that the culprit is the male partner’s insufficient sperm quality.

Time and time again we are asked, what can I take to improve the quality of my sperm? Am I not doing enough exercise? What food is the best to eat? Is it our lifestyle? Should my husband not rest the laptop on his lap? And so on.

Unfortunately, we don’t always have the answers to all these questions. Neither does science. But we have collated nine interesting facts about sperm quality and performance. We are not claiming these are 100% scientific, or that they are proven medical facts, but this is something to consider. If anything, they are just interesting:

  • A recent Israeli study found that sperm quality is highest in winter and early spring. The same study also suggests that low stress weekends increase your chances of pregnancy.
  • It is believed that consuming foods rich in antioxidants (such as lycopene) is one solution that assists in increasing sperm morphology. These are generally found in red foods, with concentration being highest in tomatoes and, strangely enough, watermelons.
  • Recent Harvard research found that sperm counts of men who worked out were 44% higher than of those who didn’t engage in physical activity. This is because time in the gym burns fat while boosting testosterone.
  • Preliminary research indicates that men who use their phones more have decreased sperm motility. This might be due to impact of electromagnetic waves. However, this is a very recent observation that’s not yet fully verified.
  • Using lubricants can undoubtedly have a major impact on your chance to conceive. Some brands contain chemicals that are acidic or contain alkaline agents and can kill up to 72% of your spermatozoa.
  • Soy products are believed to affect sperm production as they contain a natural compound that mimics the female hormone estrogen. Your body can in turn respond to this rise in estrogen levels by producing less testosterone.
  • Again, there’s correlation between regular exercise and healthy sperm. Outdoor exercise may have an even greater effect with Vitamin D playing a role in increased sperm production.
  • Not rocket science, but consuming less high-fat products leads to better sperm production. A good balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables and meat is advised for everyone, and certainly has a positive effect on sperm quality.
  • Testicles are located on the outside of a man’s body, and surprise, surprise for good reason. They need to be kept a few degrees cooler than your body temperature. There’s evidence to suggest that warm baths/spas and saunas can have a negative impact on sperm quality and might even cause short-term impotence.

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Our partner clinics

Compass Fertility, based in Canberra, Australia, is lead by Dr. Nicci Sides and offers a boutique style of care, tailoring to the individual FERTILITY needs rather than standard protocols, something that is not offered elsewhere.

Fertility First is based in Hurstville, half an hour’s drive from Sydney CBD. Lead by Dr. Anne Clark, the first specialist in Australia to receive CREI qualification, Anne and the team provide a holistic approach to treatment, with continuity of care throughout your journey.

No1 Fertility is located in Melbourne, Victoria, and is lead by Dr. Lynn Burmeister. The clinic’s focus is to provide the best patient care and fertility treatment at an affordable cost. The clinics have the best and latest technology with state-of-the-art equipment and world-leading scientists.

Repromed Clinic is one of the country’s leading fertility clinics, delivering excellence in their standard of care, innovation, and pregnancy success rates. It is the only IVF clinic in South Australia to offer a complete range of care tailored to your needs, support, and fertility treatment options, onsite at their Dulwich purpose-built facilities.

Coastal IVF is located on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Queensland in Maroochydore. Lead by Dr. Paul Stokes, Coastal IVF’s friendly team provides a wide range of fertility treatments, pregnancy, and general gynaecological services, creating the best experience by offering individualised care tailored to your needs and diagnoses.

The Sydney CBD clinic is Monash IVF’s flagship clinic. With a premium day hospital on site, Monash IVF provide a holistic patient experience where everything is conveniently located under the one roof. The Monash IVF team comprises of a multi-disciplinary team of leaders in reproductive health, including fertility specialists, gynaecologists, fertility nurses, embryologists, counsellors and patient coordinators.

Located within Westfield Shopping Centre, Monash IVF Bondi Junction offers a full service clinic for those living or working in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Our full service clinic provides numerous options and services to women and couples. Monash IVF Bondi Junction comprises a multi-disciplinary team of Fertility Specialists, Fertility Nurses, Scientists, Counsellors and Patient Coordinators, meaning everything is right on your door step.

Located in western Sydney, Monash IVF Parramatta offers a full service clinic for those living or working in the western suburbs of Sydney.Our full service clinic provides numerous options and services to women and couples. Monash IVF Parramatta comprises a multi-disciplinary team of Fertility Specialists, Fertility Nurses, Scientists, Counsellors and Patient Coordinators, meaning everything is right on your door step.

Our clinic in Penrith is a full service clinic offering Fertility expertise to anyone in and around Greater Western Sydney, including: Springwood, Glenbrook, Mount Druitt, Erskine Park or Luddenham. Monash IVF Penrith comprises a multi-disciplinary team of Fertility Specialists, Fertility Nurses, Scientists, Counsellors and Patient Coordinators, meaning everything is right on your doorstep.

Monash IVF Albury offers a consulting location to anyone located in or around Southern New South Wales or Northern Victoria. Monash IVF Albury provides a convenient location to those living or working around Glenroy, East Albury, South Albury and North Albury.

At Monash – Brisbane, our diverse team of experts brings together unparalleled fertility care within your reach. United under one roof, our Fertility Specialists and Patient Coordinators are devoted to providing personalized guidance on your journey towards parenthood.

Our Monash IVF Rockhampton clinic has been a beacon of hope for the Central Queensland community since 2003, catering to those in Port Curtis, Fairy Bower, Gracemere, Alton Downs, and Norman Gardens.

Established in 1998, Monash IVF Gold Coast has been the beacon of hope for single women, couples, families, and LGBTQI couples, eliminating extensive travel to metropolitan Brisbane.