The Ultimate Guide to Male Fertility 

Starting or growing your family is a wonderful time, and being a parent is a life-changing experience. You might not have had to think much about your fertility before, but now that you are looking to conceive, The IVF Network has created this guide to answer all your questions and give you the best chance of conceiving.

What is male fertility?

Infertility refers to the inability to get pregnant after one year of trying to conceive. It may seem obvious, but you need to be having regular unprotected sex for your partner to become pregnant. Regular sex is considered to be two to three times a week. 

Male factor fertility refers to sperm health and the sperm's ability to fertilise an egg. It is primarily linked to sperm production and transportation. Healthy sperm are necessary to fertilise the egg and create an embryo.

Watch now: Jonathan Ramsay, Male Fertility Specialist shares his expertise and advice on male fertility.

For an honest look at the male side of trying to conceive, our podcast Workplace Benefits Unwrapped has an episode on the male experience of fertility — breaking the silence around a subject many men find hard to talk about.

How to boost male fertility and increase sperm count

There are many lifestyle factors that you can adjust to improve your fertility. Male factor fertility can be impacted by your diet, the amount of sleep you get, your stress levels, and your weight.

Male fertility diet and supplements

Fertility Nutritionist and IVFN Advisor Mel Brown advises starting a fertility diet in the months before and during the time you are hoping to conceive. Eating a balanced diet with antioxidant-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and fortified foods, has been shown to improve sperm health. Adding walnuts to your diet is another food that is often suggested for male fertility. It can support the creation of healthier sperm because the nutrients they contain may be linked to sperm health. 

Some research shows that when taking supplements, such as vitamin C, zinc and folic acid, men saw improved fertility and an increased sperm count.

Weight and exercise

Healthy lifestyle practices (such as exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, or aiming for a healthy body mass index) can help improve sperm health. Exercising for 20-30 minutes three times a week can contribute to a boost in sperm health.

On the other hand, having an unhealthy body mass index and a sedentary lifestyle can hamper sperm production and decrease sexual function, therefore increasing your chances of fertility problems.

Health and wellbeing

Wellbeing is more than doing yoga and having a positive outlook on life. It is about ensuring you are taking care of your body and mind and being well in all aspects of your life and as part of your routine.

Stress

It is one of the tribulations of modern life that most people experience stress. Whether this is through work, relationships or finances, stress can negatively impact fertility. Like a catch twenty-two, if...