If you and your husband have been trying to have a child for a while now, but have not been successful so far, then you might be having some thoughts related to your health or your husband's health. And if you think (or at this point, you might already know) that your husband has a low sperm count, then it might be time to think back on what could have caused it or what to avoid. Low sperm count means that a man produces fewer sperm cells than normal.
It is common knowledge that men have an evolutionary advantage over women when it comes to reproductive health; men can produce new sperm every day of their long lives, while women only have a limited number of eggs.
A man lifestyle has significant impact on a his sperm count. For the most part, however, those levels don't actually last. But of course, being in the know or keeping track of your husband's sperm count, especially if you are planning to have kids soon, can be very helpful to you as husband and wife.
6 Common factors that affect sperm count
1. Use of drugs
Most ingredients found in drugs that affect a man's sperm count is Anabolic steroids. It is used to improve muscle strength and growth, but it can shrink the testicles and reduce sperm production. The use of cocaine or marijuana can also reduce the quantity and consistency of your husband's semen.
2. Excessive alcohol intake
Alcohol has oxygen-free radicals that are suspect of lowering a man's sperm count. This is due to the toxicity of alcohol itself.
While some studies say that red wine may help give men a good quality of sperm, there are also many studies that claim otherwise. If you are planning to conceive a child soon, it is recommended to advise your husband to start controlling alcohol usage. And if this seems to be a drastic change in his lifestyle, it is best to consult with a specialist.
3. Low frequency of ejaculation
You and your husband may have heard of the common misconception that a man needs to save up his sperm when you are planning to have a baby. Contrary to this is the fact that the more sexual activity a man has, the healthier his sperm can get.
Toronto's Create Fertility Centre expert Ari Baratz says that it is recommended for a man to ejaculate once to twice a week.
4. Exposure to occupational hazards
Some kinds of occupations are harmful to your husband's body. An example is welding and those other jobs that make them sit for a long time, like truck driving.
Staying too long in sitting positions are said to increase the risk of infertility. However, the evidence for these correlations is still inconclusive and more research needs to be done. Nonetheless, avoiding prolonged sitting has other benefits too.
5. Too much coffee
The recommended daily intake of coffee is only 300 milligrams, equivalent to two cups. And excessive drinking of coffee can have a huge effect on a man's sperm count. If a man manages to drink four or more cups of coffee per day, he will likely have an abnormal sperm shape, which affects mobility.
6. High levels of stress
It is no surprise that stress can bring a certain amount of challenge to sperm count. With high levels of stress comes an imbalance in the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Stress messes up with testosterone and will cause lowering of a man's sperm count. So for this and for so many other reasons, it is best that you and your husband try your best to stay away from stressful situations.
READ MORE: Male Fertility Solutions: Sperm-Checking Kits Now Available For Private Use
