Q: If my sperm quality is too low, how can I improve it?
A: Sperm quality is an important part of your IVF process, just like the egg quality is. Sperm quality is measured by a sperm analysis done by a qualified laboratory. Some of the important components of a sperm analysis test are:
- Sperm volume (Normal: >1.5 mL)
- pH (Normal: >7.2)
- Vitality (Normal: >58%)
- Sperm concentration (Normal: >15 million sperms / mL)
- Sperm number (Normal: >39 million)
- Total motile (This is the percentage of the sperms that move. Normal: >40%)
- Progressive (This is the percentage of the sperms that move forward. Normal: >32%)
- Sperm morphology, normal (This is the percentage of the sperms that have normally shaped head, midpiece and tail. Normal: >4%)
- Teratozoospermia Index (This is the score given based on the percentage of normal morphology. Lower the better. Normal: <2.09)
- IgG antibody, IgA antibody (These are the presence of antibodies in semen that can potentially harm the sperms. (Normal: <50%)
(Reference values from Cooper TG et al. World Health Organization reference values for human semen characteristics. Hum Reprod Update. R 2010;16:231-45.)
When you have a low sperm quality, it doesn’t necessarily mean that IVF will be unsuccessful. In a normal IVF procedure, sperm and eggs are combined in a laboratory dish to allow for fertilization to occur naturally. However, when sperm quality is low, additional techniques can be employed to enhance the chances of successful fertilization.
One such technique is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), which involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg. ICSI can be particularly beneficial in cases of low sperm count, poor sperm motility, high levels of antisperm antibodies, and poor sperm morphology. Your fertility doctor will choose the best sperm and inject it directly into an egg.
If your sperm quality is particularly bad, though, your fertility doctor may ask you to improve your sperm quality before you can donate your sperms for IVF. Here are some steps you can take to increase your sperm quality.
- Take Bird & Be’s The Powers for Males No CoQ10 Boost daily supplement – Each daily pouch contains 7 tablets of everything from vitamins, minerals to antioxidants. Take it every day for at least 3 months.
- Take 100% Pomegranate Juice, 250 mL daily – Pomegranate juice is known to contain a lot of antioxidants. My recommendation is SULTAN 100% Pomegranate Juice no sugar added. While it doesn’t taste very good due to having no added sugar, its price is half of the more popular POM brand which contains about 30 grams of sugar.
- Try to avoid coffee or at least drink at most one cup a day – Heavy coffee intake seems to be associated with lower sperm concentration and other sperm quality parameters.
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Exercise longer – Exercise may help with your sperm quality.
- Try to avoid burning incense – A study done in 2022 showed deleterious effect of incense burning on reproductive functions in mice. Another study found that prolonged exposure to incense smoke was associated with decreased sperm motility and vitality.
- Decrease intake of soft drinks containing artificial sweeteners – Some studies link artificial sweeteners with decreased semen volume, sperm concentration and sperm motility.
- Avoid heating up your scrotum – Heat can kill sperms. Avoid taking a hot bath and don’t place a running laptop on your legs while sitting down. Try to wear underwear that is loose.
Making a lifestyle change as noted above can increase your sperm quality. Note that sperm production occurs in the time span of 2 to 3 months. The result of sperm analysis done today would reflect the sperms produced 3 months ago. If you need to increase your sperm quality, make the changes as stated above for 3 months, then do a sperm analysis test.
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