Things that can affect a man’s sperm You probably know about some of the biggies like
smoking, alcohol, illicit drug use or hot tubs
impairing a man’s fertility but here are a few things
you may not know about:

1. Morning sex = higher sperm count: If you are
trying to conceive, time intercourse when his sperm
count is at its highest. Researchers have found that
men generally have a higher sperm count in the
mornings. Men’s intimate interest may be higher in
the mornings as well.

2. His weight matters: Women are not the only ones
who have weight related fertility issues. Men who are
overweight or underweight are more likely to have
problems with infertility. Having too much or too little
body fat may affect a man’s hormone levels.
Scientists in one Finnish study found that a 20 lb weight gain may increase a man’s chance of being
infertile by 10 percent.

3. Have more sex not less: Men with low sperm
counts are often advised to abstain from sex in order
to improve their sperm count, but new research
suggests that while this may improve sperm count,
too much abstinence can damage the DNA of the
sperm that is produced. Australian researchers have found that having daily sex actually improves the
quality, if not the quantity of sperm. The thought
behind this is that regular ejaculations get rid of the
old sperm and make way for newer healthier sperm.

4. Folic acid is not only good for the goose, but it is
also good for the gander. Most women know that
taking a folic acid supplement is important during
childbearing years because it can prevent certain
birth defects. You may not have known that it is also
important for men to eat a diet containing folic acid. A recent study by researchers at the University of
California, Berkley found that men who had lower
levels of folic acid (or folate) in their diets had a
higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities in their
sperm.

5. Avoid soy products. A recent study published by
Oxford University Press’s online publication Human
Reproduction, suggests that eating a diet high in soy
foods could cause men to have a lower sperm
count. According to the study, men who ate soy
foods were more likely to have lower sperm counts (although not necessarily abnormally low) than men
who did not eat soy.

6. Skip the lubricants. Lubricants can impede the
movement of sperm. A woman’s cervical mucous is
designed to help transport sperm, but many
commercial lubricants have the opposite effect.
Lubricants like KY Jelly, baby oil, or petroleum jelly
have been shown to slow down or damage sperm. Saliva can also damage sperm. One lubricant that is
okay to use is Pre-seed. According to one study in
the ASRM’s journal of Fertility and Sterility, Pre-
seed was not shown to harm or slow down sperm.

7. Watch out for cell phones and laptops. There
have been a few studies that have shown that
excessive use of laptops or cell phones can cause
sperm damage. Laptops, if placed on a man’s lap,
get hot over time. The increase in scrotal
temperature may have a negative effect on a man’s sperm if he keeps a laptop sitting on his lap for
extended periods of time. Similarly, cell phone
emissions might also cause sperm damage.
Keeping a cell phone in a close proximity to a man’s
scrotum could potentially cause a decrease in sperm
quality, according to a small research study from the Cleveland Clinic.