What is Semen ? How to increase Sperm Quality ?
What is Semen ? How to increase Sperm Quality ?
We all know that semen is the male reproductive fluid, but only 10 per cent of your semen is made up of sperm. The rest consists of enzymes, vitamin C, calcium, protein, sodium, zinc and fructose sugar, all of which can go a long way towards telling you what's going on inside your body.
Semen is the thick fluid that comes from men's penis when they ejaculate during sexual activity. It carries sperm out of a man's body so it can fertilize an egg and create an embryo.
What does healthy semen look like?
Healthy semen is usually a cloudy-white or grey fluid with a jelly-like consistency. 'It is a complex liquid usually white or grey in colour, sometimes yellowish and has a bleach like smell due to its content of alkaline substances,' says Davies.
'These are important to enable sperm to combat the acidic nature of the female genital tract. Approximately 200 to 500 million sperm are released each ejaculation but this can also vary,' he adds.
The average volume of semen produced in a single ejaculation varies from 2 to 5ml, which is roughly a teaspoonful of liquid.
Semen and sperm are not the same things. Sperm is a microscopic cell that is a part of the semen. The job of the sperm is to fertilize the egg inside a woman's body. To get there they are carried by fluids, which are produced by different male sex organs.
When to worry about semen?
A pronounced yellow or green colour may indicate a sexually transmitted infection (STI). 'The occurrence of a seminal infection can result in yellow-green semen that looks and smells offensive,' says Davies. 'Such infection should always be investigated by specialists to determine or exclude any underlying causes, and a long course of antibiotics is usually prescribed'
Other symptoms of STIs in men include sores or blisters on the penis, pain or burning during urination, penile discharge, itching and swelling. However, some STIs don't present any symptoms at all, so it's important you use a condom and get yourself checked regularly even if your semen appears to be normal.
Sperm quality and fertility.
Men are considered infertile if they have too little sperm, so the tiny amounts that may be found in pre-ejaculate are extremely unlikely to result in pregnancy. The 'you are what you eat/drink/smoke' idiom rings true when it comes to semen. A 2014 study, published on Fertility and Sterility, revealed that men whose overall health scored lowest were more likely to have lower levels of semen and sperm quality.
'Men continue to make semen into old age and can remain fertile provided sperm production by the testicles continues. However, excess alcohol and smoking can damage sperm production, causing men to become less fertile,' says Davies.
'Obesity can also cause problems as obese men produce more oestrogen from fat, inhibiting sperm production. Steroid usage as part of excessive exercise plans can also reduce sperm activity.'
How to Improve Sperm Quality.
1. Balanced and Healthy Diet.
Hoping to get your partner pregnant? It's not just the woman's diet that is important when you're trying to conceive. Maintaining a balanced and healthy diet (antioxidants are particularly good for fertility) will keep your sperm in good shape, while habitual alcohol consumption and smoking can damage the quality of your swimmers. However, the good news is these effects are reversible, so start cutting down now to improve your chances of conception.
Maintaining a balanced and healthy diet will keep your sperm in good shape.
2. Reduce and Control Obesity.
Additionally, research shows that obesity can lower the quality and quantity of a man's sperm by up to a quarter, so it's worth losing some weight before trying for a baby. Even if you aren't significantly overweight, a healthy amount of exercise is still a good idea as it can actively boost your fertility by increasing sperm concentration.
3. Exercise.
It is found that weightlifting and outdoors exercise can help sperm health more than other types of exercise. Consider incorporating these kinds of activities into your routine. Exercise can also help you maintain or lose weight, which may have additional benefits for your sperm health.
4. Avoid Substance abuse.
Low sperm counts and unhealthy sperm have been linked with following which should be avoided:
# Heavy drinking, which is defined as drinking two or more alcoholic drinks per day
# Tobacco use of any kind.
# Illegal drug use, including cocaine and anabolic steroids.
If you use any of these substances and are having trouble quitting, talk to your doctor. They can recommend programs to help manage and treat addiction.
5. Vitamins.
Some types of vitamins, including vitamins D, C, E, and CoQ10, are important for sperm health.
6. Abstain a day or two from sex.
Having sex too often can lower semen volume and sperm count, but having sex too infrequently can contribute to lower sperm quality. Learn more about how often to have sex when you’re trying to conceive.
7. Stop Soaking in a Hot Tub or Biking in Tight Clothes.
Soaking in a hot tub or biking in tight clothes, there will be fewer healthy sperm within the seminal fluid.
Sperm count isn’t the only thing that matters when trying to conceive. You also want to have overall healthy sperm.
A male’s reproductive health is defined by three aspects of sperm:
# the health of the individual sperm
# the amount or concentration of sperm
# the volume of the overall sperm
Some findings from Trusted Sources suggest that men’s sperm quality is declining. Doctors aren’t completely sure why that is happening, but lifestyle and nutrition may play a role.
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