While trying to conceive a child, every aspect of reproductive health, both male and female, will need to be factored in. Despite being a vital factor, sperm health is often overlooked since most of the focus tends to be on women’s fertility. It goes without saying that sperm quality can significantly impact the success rates of conception and pregnancy, especially in cases where assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IVF (In-vitro Fertilization) are being sought. In fact, some fertility issues could actually stem from problems with sperm quality, thus necessitating the need for treatments to improve sperm quality.
In this article, we shall find out whether it is possible to enhance sperm quality in as little as 90 days and whether it can be achieved simply by adopting a few practical strategies.
Sperm are the male reproductive cells produced in the testicles after puberty. Their basic function is to fertilise the eggs of females. Each sperm has three main parts: the head, midpiece (or neck), and tail (flagellum). The head facilitates the sperm's entry into the egg and contains the male DNA. The tail aids in the movement through the female reproductive system, while the midpiece contains mitochondria that provide energy for this movement.
Conception happens when sperm comes into contact with a fertile egg during the ovulation phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle. This happens when men release semen after sexual intercourse or, in the case of ART, when sperm that has been extracted from the male partner is mixed with the female partner’s eggs to achieve fertilisation.
There are usually millions of sperm in semen that men ejaculate. When sexual intercourse happens during the ovulatory phase of the female partner’s menstrual cycle, sperm will enter the vagina, travel through the cervix and uterus to reach the mature egg that has been released into the fallopian tube. The woman’s immune system response would have already reduced the number of sperm. Of the remaining, only the strongest one will be able to penetrate and fertilise the egg, consequently leading to the formation of an embryo and thus beginning the pregnancy journey.
The success of treatments like IVF depends hugely on the quality of both eggs and sperm. Once sperm have been collected, they will be analysed and will have to undergo several procedures. This is done to ensure only the best quality ones are selected for the fertilisation process.
Be it natural or assisted, sperm quality must be high to ensure success. Many fertility issues are the result of impaired sperm quality. To assess sperm quality, semen analysis may be performed.
A semen analysis is usually one of the first steps taken when assessing reproductive health. It is done to check the volume and quality of sperm. The key parameters that are checked include:
1. sperm-motility: This indicates the level of movement sperm can achieve. Good-quality sperm needs to move/swim in a fast, consistent manner.
2. Sperm Morphology: Indicates whether the sperm are of standard size and shape, as abnormally shaped sperm cannot fertilise the egg.
3. Sperm Concentration: The number of sperm per millilitre of semen. Higher concentration is typically an indicator of good reproductive health.
4. Semen Volume: This is used to indicate the amount of semen that has been procured as the sample.
5. Sperm Vitality: This indicates the percentage of live sperm in the given semen sample.
Sperm quality may be low if any of these parameters turn out to be lower than the usual or expected range. When this happens, fertility experts may recommend treatment or specific changes to the lifestyle to enhance sperm quality. Changes in sperm quality are not usually visible immediately. In fact, it may take an entire sperm regeneration cycle to see any tangible results.
Visible results from male fertility improvement treatment can usually be seen only after an entire sperm regeneration cycle has been completed.
Sperm regeneration, scientifically termed spermatogenesis, is the period during which the testicles produce and develop new sperm. This could be around 2.5 to 3 months. So, after about 90 days, a new set of sperm would have fully matured, ready to be ejaculated.
During spermatogenesis, the testicles will make several million sperm per day. By the end of a complete sperm production cycle, up to 8 billion sperm could be regenerated. A typical sperm regeneration cycle involves the following stages:
Stem cells in the testicles divide and eventually become immature sperm cells (spermatids).
The spermatids change shape. They will start forming a head (with genetic information) and tail (to help movement). They mature in the testicles and then move into a storage tube called the epididymis.
Once matured, sperm move into storage, and when ejaculation happens, sperm travel through semen. Good movement (motility) is essential for sperm to reach an egg.
Yes, in most cases, there can be positive changes in sperm quality in the 90 days it takes for an average sperm regeneration cycle to complete. However, this is subject to several factors. Sometimes, extensive treatments may be required to rectify any abnormalities that impact the sperm quality, and this could take a longer period of time. For those advised to make certain lifestyle changes, results may be visible after completing one cycle (90 days).
To ensure the volume, morphology and motility of sperm improve, the following strategies should be adopted:
Studies have shown that a regular fitness regimen is vital to improve semen quality and even testosterone levels. There are numerous exercises to improve sperm quality and age, and current physical activities should be done daily.
To improve sperm quality, it is important to quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Such habits harm one’s overall health, and they could even cause fertility issues in men.
Tight-fitting underwear and clothing could push the testicles closer to the body, consequently increasing their heat. Testicles hang slightly away from the body to keep them cooler than body temperature. So, avoid wearing clothes that increase heat in the scrotal area.
Stress could harm fertility and could lead to lowered sperm quality. Avoid stressful situations and try stress-relief measures such as yoga, meditation, etc.
Vitamins C and D are vital nutrients that improve male fertility. These are known for their ability to improve sperm concentration and motility.
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. Many studies have shown that it can help improve sperm quality. It is found in many fruits and vegetables, especially in watermelon, tomato, guava, apricot, etc.
Improving sperm quality within 90 days might seem impossible. However, with a proactive attitude and the adoption of recommendations from fertility experts, it is possible to see positive results in the semen analysis that is done after the completion of a sperm regeneration cycle.
Yes, it is possible to see improvements in sperm quality in 90 days.
Yes, vitamin C and D supplements have been known to improve sperm quality.
Quitting smoking and alcohol is usually recommended when dealing with fertility issues. Tobacco and alcohol usage can severely impact sperm quality.
Antioxidants like lycopene can help improve motility, morphology and quantity of sperm in semen.
