Tricks To Boost Male Fertility That Actually Work, According To A Doctor
When it comes to conceiving a child, much of the advice so freely doled out is aimed towards the woman involved — eat this, avoid that, don't do it too early, don't wait too long, don't drink, don't smoke, don't stress... All very stressful indeed, thank you very much. What tends to be forgotten, at times, is that no matter how healthy and ready and willing a woman may be to have a baby, the current state of evolutionary biology is such that there still needs to be a few Y chromosomes in the mix somewhere, whether from a partner or a donor.
For any man who does want to take an active role in making sure that his "little swimmers" are capable of doing their job, Dr. Zaher Merhi, M.D., HCLD, FACOG, spoke with us to share some of the advice he offers at his Rejuvenating Fertility Center. Male fertility, like female fertility, is affected by overall health, so Dr. Merhi says that "eating healthy, exercising, avoiding smoking and heavy alcohol drinking, and taking vitamins (such as vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin C, and Zinc) are easy tricks that boost male fertility."
In addition to just staying in good shape, overall, though, he does have a few additional tips for wannabe daddies.
Keep cool and chemical-free
One of Dr. Merhi's top tips involves keeping your bits and pieces away from excessive heat. As Merhi puts it, "The testicles are outside the body of the man for a reason: they don't like to get too hot!" He says that heat impacts their ability to produce sperm, and recommends that any men wishing to father children in the near future avoid such things as hot tubs, saunas, and tighty whities (or tighties of any other color). He also cautions against putting your laptop right on your lap, or at least not in the general vicinity of your man parts.
Another issue Merhi brings up is that of environmental toxins. He says that those who breathe in toxic chemicals on a regular basis are at most risk of decreased fertility (among other bad things), so suggests that painters, farmers, and gas station attendants take care either not to inhale while harmful fumes are in the air or to wear face masks while on the job. Good advice you'd do well to follow even after conception has taken place, since nine months down the road you're going to need all the energy you can muster. Being a dad is serious business, so you'd better shape up ahead of time!