How can you increase sperm motility?

What is sperm motility?

Sperm motility refers to how sperm move. It is a key part of a man’s ability to have children. Low sperm motility, also called “asthenospermia,” means that the sperm don’t move forward enough.

If sperm can’t move through the cervix and fallopian tubes, it can’t help a woman get pregnant. This can make it hard for men to have children on their own. But there are some things men can do to make their sperm move better.

Example: Diagnosis of low sperm motility

The male fertility test examines three main factors that influence reproductive capacity.

During the analysis of sperm, fertility specialists will evaluate the sperm count (sperm concentration within a sample), the morphology (the percentage of “normal” forms), and the percentage of motility. A man is classified as fertile by the WHO (World Health Organization) when he has minimum motility of 32% of grade A + grade B.

If, for example. the “highly progressive mobile” grade A sperm was 12% and the “progressive mobile” grade B sperm 21%, the sum being 21% + 12% = 33%. The male individual would be above the minimum of 32% and, therefore, be classified as having a sufficiently mobile sperm.

Note that the sperm count (the WHO minimum is 20 million / ml) and the sperm morphology /% of standard forms (the WHO minimum is 4%) must be higher than the WHO minimum thresholds so that man is classified as fertile.

Classification of sperm motility

There are several classifications of sperm motility.

• Grade A sperm is the strongest and move rapidly in a straight line.
• Grade B sperm is still advancing rapidly. However, they tend to travel in a non-direct path.
•  Grade C sperm are motile, but not progressive. Their tails vibrate, but the sperm cannot advance.
• The final classification, Grade D, refers to sperm, which is entirely immobile and cannot move.

Men with less than 32% of grade A and grade B sperm motility are believed to have low sperm motility and are called “subfertile.” In this situation, men should consider making lifestyle changes to improve sperm motility and general reproductive health if they want to start a family.

What is the motility of sperm?

The following video demonstrates the differences in forwarding movements very well.

What causes low sperm motility?

There is a multitude of causes of poor sperm motility. Some of these include

Stress:

When the body is stressed, excess cortisol in the body and the resulting oxidative stress can affect sperm production and health. Relieving stress can help improve sperm motility. Effective strategies are regular physical activity (preferably low impact sports such as swimming, jogging, rowing or cycling), meditation, and yoga.

Alcohol:

Sperm production and development can be adversely affected by excessive alcohol consumption 1, decreased motility, and overall sperm health.

Heat:

Sperm is very sensitive to heat. This is, of course, the reason why the testicles are outside the main body. If exposed to high temperatures for prolonged periods, sperm production will be affected, causing decreased sperm concentration and mobility. Aspiring parents should not spend much time in saunas, hot tubs, or other environments with excessive temperatures. Underwear can help keep sperm at the optimum temperature. Also, avoid using laptops directly for extended periods.

Sex:

Excessive sex can affect general sperm count and motility. For men seeking to father a child, it is recommended to have sex only every two to three days before ovulation. This will allow for the development of healthy and viable sperm. During ovulation, the frequency of sexual intercourse can increase to help improve the chances of conception.

Poor nutrition:

The body requires specific vitamins and minerals to support healthy sperm motility. A nutrient-deficient diet can adversely affect sperm health. Conversely, consuming the right nutrients has been found to increase sperm motility.

Heavy metals:

Exposure to heavy metals through cheap processed foods can reduce sperm health and cause abnormalities. The solution is to stop eating fast food, cook more at home, and eat more organic vegetables.

Smoke:

Tobacco smoke has dozens of harmful chemicals that can reduce sperm motility and viability. If you are trying to start a family, stop smoking!

Bluetooth:

Two clinical studies have shown that almost ubiquitous Bluetooth radiation from electronic devices reduces sperm motility and viability 1 2. So turn off Bluetooth and get those cables out again!

Genetics: a genetic condition that causes DNA fragmentation can lead to reduced sperm motility. This condition is often inherited.

Recreational drugs: clinical studies have confirmed that anabolic steroids and marijuana significantly damage sperm quality. If you plan to father a child, you should stop using these substances immediately.

Paid medications: if you are taking subscription medications, please check the potential impact with your pharmacist and GBP or doctor.

Which nutrients have been shown to increase motility?

Making positive lifestyle changes can significantly help men with fertility problems. In particular, better nutrition is a big plus.

Some nutrients can help improve sperm motility.

Studies have found:

• 2 g / day of the amino acid L-carnitine, together with vitamin E, has been shown to increase sperm motility by 59% over eight months.
• 3 g / day of L-carnitine can increase sperm motility by 40% in three months.
• 2000 mg/day of vitamin C has been shown to increase sperm motility by 39% within two months.
• Lycopene carotene 4 mg/day has been shown to increase sperm motility by 25% in 3 months.
• 200 mg of selenium combined with 400 IU of vitamin E were found to improve motility, morphology, or 53% of patients during a 14-week trial period.
• Low levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced sperm motility.

Treatment options for low sperm motility.

Depending on how bad it is, there are a few ways to treat “suboptimal” sperm motility:

1. Men with a grade A+B motility of about 30% can often improve the quality of their sperm by making changes to their lifestyle, such as getting regular low-impact exercise and eating more carefully with a focus on food and supplements. Adequate. This must be done for at least three months, or until there is a pregnancy.
2. A grade A+B motility of about 20% can also improve their reading by making changes to their lifestyle and taking supplements until they get pregnant. Depending on the couple’s medical history and age, artificial fertilization methods like intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or in-vitro fertilization (ICSI) may be suggested. IUI is the least expensive, but only 10–20% of couples who try it end up getting pregnant.
3. Men with Grade A+B motility of 15% or less: A urologist or male fertility expert checks to see if a treatable medical condition like a varicocele can be found and treated. Again, these men can improve their readings by making changes to their lifestyle and taking supplements. But IVF plus ICSI is the best treatment for these men.

Which nutrients have been shown to increase motility?

Making positive lifestyle changes can significantly help men with fertility problems. In particular, better nutrition is a big plus.

Some nutrients can help improve sperm motility.

Studies have found:

• 2 g / day of the amino acid L-carnitine, together with vitamin E, has been shown to increase sperm motility by 59% over eight months.
• 3 g / day of L-carnitine can increase sperm motility by 40% in three months.
• 2000 mg/day of vitamin C has been shown to increase sperm motility by 39% within two months.
• Lycopene carotene 4 mg/day has been shown to increase sperm motility by 25% in 3 months.
• 200 mg of selenium combined with 400 IU of vitamin E were found to improve motility, morphology, or 53% of patients during a 14-week trial period.
• Low levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced sperm motility.

How do these nutrients work?

Nutrients such as L-carnitine, vitamins E and C, selenium, and lycopene are potent antioxidants. These compounds can help prevent oxidative stress in cells.

This is important for sperm as it matures. This antioxidant activity can help protect sperm development and ensure healthy motility.

Foods enriched with L-carnitine include lean meat and fish, nuts, seeds, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, parsley, and cabbage.

Foods for sperm motility

Some of the best places to get vitamin E are in cabbage, almonds, mustard, spinach, avocados, and sunflower seeds. Citrus fruits, dark green leaves, berries, and tomatoes are all good sources of vitamin C.

Men should eat more Brazil nuts, mushrooms, chia seeds, seeds, and green vegetables to get more of the trace element selenium.

Lycopene is a carotenoid that is bright red and is found in high amounts in tomatoes, watermelons, papayas, and red carrots.

Vitamin D is important for sperm development and helps keep the quality and number of sperm at a healthy level. When the skin is out in the sun, the body makes vitamin D. If this isn’t enough, a lack of this vitamin can happen.

It improves the fertility of sperm motility with micronutrients.

Several micronutrients such as vitamins, vitaminoids, amino acids, and trace elements have proven to improve sperm quantity, mobility, and shape. All of This directly translates into better overall sperm quality and an increased chance of pregnancy.

Improve your fertility with micronutrients

Several micronutrients such as vitamins, vitaminoids, amino acids, and trace elements have proven effective in improving sperm quantity, mobility, and shape. This directly translates into better overall sperm quality and, therefore, an increased chance of pregnancy.

The most effective nutrients for male fertility

Numerous studies have shown that highly dosed nutrients have a potentially significant impact on the overall quality of spermatozoa.

• The amino acid L-arginine has been shown to increase sperm count and motility.
• Another amino acid, L-carnitine, has been found to significantly improve sperm concentration (count) and motility over a relatively short period of only eight weeks.
• Vitamin D has been shown to improve sperm count, motility and morphology
• Vitamin B9, better known as folic acid, has been shown to increase count, motility, and morphology.
• The zinc improves the immune system and significantly enhances the sperm count in combination with folic acid.
• It was found that selenium, in combination with vitamin E, improves motility.

Sources and bibliography

1. http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/5/1/28.pdf
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7701414
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12568837
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8085668
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21427118
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20978181
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11872201
8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21403799
9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12623744
10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8862739
11. Akmal, M. et. to the. (2006). Improvement in human semen quality after oral supplementation of vitamin C. Journal of Medicinal Food. Volume 9, Issue 3, (pp. 440-2).
12. Tartagni, M. et al. (2015). Males with low serum levels of vitamin D have lower pregnancy rates when ovulation induction and timed intercourse are used as a treatment for infertile couples: results from a pilot study. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. Volume 13, (pp. 127).