Tag Archives: Low Sperm Count

Sperm counts continue to plummet, say researchers

June 1, 2012 10:02 am /

Environmental pollution, plastic chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, unhealthy diets, radiation-emitting technologies — these and many other factors are contributing to an epidemic decline in sperm counts among modern men, say researchers. According to reports, an estimated eight million US couples now have fertility problems, and about half of these cases involve men with poor sperm quality.

Today’s men have much lower sperm counts than men did just 50 years ago. Before the days of agricultural chemicals, fluoride in water, and mobile phones, exposure to sperm-damaging elements and conditions was limited, hence the reason why men of old had better sperm quality than men today do. A steady increase in hormone-disrupting chemicals and other damaging factors continues to wreak havoc on male fertility, and the epidemic is only worsening.

Last year, a five-year study found that bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical widely used in many plastic products, is responsible for destroying sperm . Another study presented at the 2006 conference of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine found that common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs can literally bring a man’s sperm count to zero.

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio found that regular cell phone use leads to a significant decline in sperm count . And a recent study out of the University Hospital San Cecilio, Granda, Spain, found that common pesticides used on food crops lead to poor quality and lowered sperm counts .

Obesity, eating junk food and drinking sodas, using a laptop on your lap, and even taking too many hot baths can also destroy sperm .

So clearly it is important for men who care at all about their fertility to take note of the environmental, lifestyle, and dietary factors that negatively affect sperm quality, and seek out ways to avoid them. It is also crucial for men to take the offense and fight back against the tide of sperm destruction by pursuing the right kinds of nutrition to help boost sperm quality.

Article source: http://www.naturalnews.com/032031_sperm_counts_radiation.html

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: ,

Nutrition and Male Fertility – How Your Diet Can Increase Sperm Count

February 23, 2011 5:26 am /

Fertility can be greatly impacted by diet in both men and women. For men, the primary side effect of poor eating habits is low or decreased sperm count. A man is considered to have a low sperm count if he has less than 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen at the time of semen analysis. Sperm count for Males in the US has been on a steady decline for the past ten years but the average sperm count is still pretty high at about 60 million. For men with low sperm counts and no related medical conditions, it is generally recommended that certain dietary changes be made prior to retesting.

Alcohol Consumption

It is highly recommended that alcohol consumption be reduced or eliminated completely. Alcohol affects the liver and can both decrease sperm count and cause the development of abnormal sperm. The same is true for smoking. Males who smoke have 13-17% fewer sperm than those who don’t. The intake of caffeine deprives the body of key nutrients and should be reduced or eliminated as well.

Take Your Vitamins

Vitamins A, C, and E are essential vitamins for sperm production. Foods that contain high amounts of vitamin C include citrus fruits, peppers, cauliflower, tomatoes, potato skins, cabbage, broccoli, peas and spinach. Vitamin E is abundant in raw seeds and nuts, sweet potato, kiwi, and mango. High amounts of vitamin E can be found in some fish like tuna and salmon. Vitamin A is found in liver, carrots, spinach, cheese and eggs.  When selecting foods that improve sperm production it is important to look for items rich in iron, zinc, selenium, and folic acid. Many of the foods listed above are high in these nutrients. Studies have shown that men who take a combination of zinc and folic acid supplements can increase their sperm counts by up to 74%. The FDA requires that these nutrients be included in the nutritional information on food labels. It is recommended that a man consume 5 milligrams of folic acid and 11 milligrams of zinc per day for optimum reproductive health.

Eat Balanced Meals

For healthy sperm production it is essential to eat a balanced diet of high protein, low fat foods including lean meats, fish, poultry, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Carrying excess body weight can also impact sperm production as the body produces more estrogen and less testosterone in men who are overweight. Reducing refined sugars and non-essential or filler foods will naturally increase the appetite so it will be important to have healthy snacks on hand to fill the void. Taking the time to plan and prepare meals will reduce the urge to turn to convenience foods from the vending machine or the drive thru.

http://www.healthiertalk.com/nutrition-and-male-fertility-how-your-diet-can-increase-sperm-count-3351

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , , ,

Use of saffron in different system of medicines:

January 10, 2011 5:35 am /

Ayurveda: - Saffron is widely used in ayurveda preparations to treat acne, pimples, dark circles, dark pigments as it helps to increase fairness and glow of skin. It is also added as an active ingredient in preparations which help in erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and to increase quality and quantity of semen.

Chinese medicine: Saffron is known as fan hong hua in Chinese medicine. It is used in blood Stagnation including amenorrhea, retained lochia, fullness and stifling sensation in the chest and diaphragm due to emotional distress . It is also used in treatment of high fever and to expel toxins.

Unani System of medicine: Saffron is used as an ingredient in Unani preparations to treat heart and liver diseases. It is used as an antidote for toxins. Saffron is used as body coolant, diuretic, general tonic and aphrodisiac in Unani system of medicine.

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Effects of stress

November 17, 2010 11:52 pm /

Stress and depression leads to low body energy level, disturbed sleep and feeling of exhaustion. Sleepless nights and exhaustion can cause dark circles, wrinkles, acne and pimples which make you look unhealthy and unattractive. Stress can also affect liver hindering its process of toxin expulsion.  Thus accumulation of toxins is also a contributing factor for dark circle.

The stress also affects male reproductive system. It causes erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low sperm count and infertility. Smoking and alcohol consumption exaggerate the effects of stress.

Try to conquer stress through natural ways. Avoid consumption of anti stress medications as much as possible.

  • Learn relaxing techniques like Yoga and Meditation.
  • Attend aerobic classes or take a walk in morning.
  • Make friendship with persons who have positive attitude
  • Keep away from people who create negative energy. Negative energy increases stress.
  • Drink a glass of vegetable juice in early morning. Do not add sugar or salt to it. Do not forget to add a spoon of fresh ginger juice to it. This healthy drink helps to cleanse body and expel toxins.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
  • Avoid deep fried foods and fast foods.
  • Take a good sleep for 7 – 8 hrs in night.
  • Take long deep breath in between your work.
  • Involve yourself in hobbies which you like. Gardening, painting, listening to music or reading books  help to relax your mind
  • A good body massage with herbal oil help to relax body and mind.
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Stress and Reproductive System, Fertility

November 8, 2010 1:05 am /

University of California, Berkeley, researchers have found what they think is a critical and, until now, missing piece of the puzzle about how stress causes sexual dysfunction and infertility.

Scientists know that stress boosts levels of stress hormones – glucocorticoids such as cortisol – that inhibit the body’s main sex hormone, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), and subsequently suppresses sperm count, ovulation and sexual activity.

In humans, chronic stress can lead to a drop in sex drive as well as a drop in fertility. Even the stress of infertility treatments can block their effectiveness, as evidenced by many anecdotes about couples conceiving children after the failure of assisted reproduction.

Animal breeding also is affected by stress. Zoos, in particular, have difficulty getting some animals to reproduce in captivity, Bentley said.

Based on animal experiments, researchers attribute much of this stress effect on sexual function to an increase in glucocorticoids – stress hormones – produced by the adrenal gland. In the brain, these glucocorticoids suppress the main reproductive hormone, GnRH, which in turn causes a shut-down of the release of the gonadotropins luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone by the pituitary, and then a suppression of testosterone, estradiol and sexual behavior.

Read complete article at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154116.php

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , ,

Sunny holidays ‘hit sperm count’

September 17, 2010 3:03 am /

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6688963.stm

Going abroad for a relaxing holiday before trying for a baby may not be a good idea, fertility experts say. Officials at the Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridgeshire say soaking up the sun in tight trunks may be one of the worst preparations for fathering a child.

Australian research has shown that too much heat can reduce sperm count and slow down the surviving sperm.

But other experts cast doubt on the claims, although they said it may be wise to be cautious.

Many couples feel that a foreign break improves their chances of conceiving by allowing them to relax fully.

However, sperm takes eight weeks to mature in the testes, and during that period, is vulnerable to any changes in temperature.

The testes naturally hang outside the body to keep them cool, and confining them in tight underwear, or dipping them in the hot tub may not be a good idea, it is claimed.

Dr Thomas Mathews, the Medical Director at Bourn Hall, the world’s first assisted conception clinic, said: “We find that at an initial consultation men may have a normal sperm count, but in some cases this has declined when we check again before treatment, which may be several months later.

“It is only recently that it has occurred to us that there may be a seasonal effect at work.”

Hot baths He said experiments had found that exposing the testes to heat over long periods led to a decreased sperm count.

In the 1950s, it was even suggested that regular hot baths could be a successful contraceptive.

Modern IVF methods do not require large numbers of viable sperm, as a single sperm can be used to fertilise an egg, in a process called ICSI.

The Australian research on animals found that heating the testes caused cell death, and a subsequent reduction in the numbers of sperm in the semen.

In addition, the sperm that were present had a reduced swimming ability, and might therefore be less capable of fertilisation.

But Sheffield University fertility expert Dr Allan Pacey said: “If this was a major effect, I think we would see people having problems conceiving in every country in the Tropics.

“However, it’s worth being cautious, as there is some evidence that scrotal heating can have an effect on DNA quality in sperm.”

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , ,

Low Sperm Count May Be Associated With Prenatal Testosterone Excess

September 16, 2010 12:35 am /

Low Sperm Count May Be Associated With Prenatal Testosterone Excess

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923082158.htm

ScienceDaily (Sep. 26, 2008) — Exposure to an excess of sexual steroids, like testosterone, during fetal development may be a potential risk factor for low sperm count and motility, according to a new study.

“The majority of disorders affecting sperm count in humans are originated during fetal life,” said Professor Sergio Recabarren of the University of Concepcion in Chillan, Chile and lead author of the study. “A developing fetus is very vulnerable to its environment, and when that environment is exposed to excess sexual steroids, it may have a significant deleterious effect on a male offspring’s fertility.”

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What happens when testes are exposed to heat ?

September 15, 2010 11:32 pm /

The testes are two glandular organs, which produce sperms and semen. They are suspended in the scrotum by the spermatic cords. Testes are suspended outside the abdominal cavity in the scrotum because the internal body temperature is too high for the sperms to survive. The normal temperature in the scrotum is 2-3°F below normal body temperature. Prolonged or repeated exposure to heat damages sperm count and sperm motility. In all quality of semen gets affected due to heat.

According to ayurveda the constitution of testes is explained as ” Maamsa asruk kapha medaha prasaadaadwavrushanaha” which means The two testes are made up of muscles, blood , fat and their derivatives .Kapha is dominant dosha of testes. Kapha dosha helps in production of healthy sperms with good motility. Increased heat reduces kapha . Reduction in kapha affects the production of healthy sperms. Because of this, it has been advised by Ayurveda acharyas to avoid exposure of testes to heat. It has been recommended to wear cold loose cloth over groin and testes during steam bath and wash testes with cold water after a long hot water bath. This process help to protect the dominant dosha (kapha) of testes and help in normal production of sperms.

For this reason stay away from wearing tight briefs, tight pants and avoid hot tubs and saunas to improve sperm count and sperm motility

Posted in: Men Health / Tagged: , , , ,

Home remedies with onions:

August 29, 2010 1:15 am /

Onion helps to reduce pain inflammation and helps in conditions like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation,low sperm count and motility

  1. Regular consumption of onions helps to reduce incidences of osteoporosis.
  2. According to principles of ayurveda vitiation of Vata causes pain in body. Onions normalize vata and thus help to reduce pain and inflammation of joints in conditions like arthritis
  3. Cut two medium sized onions and fry them with turmeric till they become soft. Use castor oil or sesame oil for frying. Roll these hot tender onions in a soft clean cloth and tie it on aching part. This helps to reduce pain and inflammation of joint. Same remedy will be helpful to make hard abscess tender.
  4. Apply a face pack of onion juice and little turmeric on face. This helps to remove dark pigments and patches.
  5. Cook one cup of moong dal (Bengal gram or yellow lentil) with thickly sliced onions (3 medium sized onions). Add salt and a pinch of turmeric while cooking. Consume this along with rice or as soup. Moong dal and onion help to soften the stools and increase the bulk of stools. They also helps to heal the abrasions on walls of rectum and anus. This recipe helps to relieve constipation, piles and normalize digestion.
  6. Onions are known as best Vajikara. Regular consumption of onion helps in conditions like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and low libido. For this cut onion into long thin slices and fry it in butter till it becomes tender and consume it in empty stomach.
  7. Seeds of onion help to increase sperm count and sperm motility.
  8. In India kajal or eye liner is prepared at home using onion juice. This helps to clean the eye and increase its glow.
  9. Consumption of one tea spoon of onion juice and one tea spoon of honey helps in reliving chest congestion which normally happens in cold and cough.
  10. Chewing onions regularly help to prevent tooth decaying and reduce tooth pain.
  11. Regular consumption of onion helps to lower blood cholesterol and blood sugar (in diabetes).
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