If your guy has been diagnosed with a low sperm count, chances are that his semen contains fewer than 20 million sperm per millilitre. This is not an infertility sentence, however. There are many things a man can do to help boost sperm count, and if those do not work, there are medical interventions that have been proven to be very effective. However, if you are dealing with low sperm count, it can still take an emotional toll. It may help to understand how this could have happened in the first place – and understanding the causes may sometimes also help with treatment.
Here are five of the most common causes of low sperm count in males. Keep in mind, though, that this is not an exhaustive list of all causes. If you would really like to get to the bottom of what is causing low sperm counts for you, talk to your doctor.
1. Electromagnetic Frequencies (EMFs)
Many experts believe that EMFs heat the testicles, which can lead to a reduced sperm count. If you think this may be the cause of low sperm count for you, or if you are concerned about EMF exposure, be sure to keep them away from your testicles. This means that your cell phone should never be in your pocket and your laptop computer should not actually sit on your lap.
2. Cigarette Smoking
Enough research has been done on the subject to make a definitive call in this case: smoking damages the sperm. There is good news for smokers, though. This damage can possibly be undone when you quit smoking. So, if you are going to try to conceive, try to quit smoking about three months before you plan to start. Similarly, alcohol is associated with a decreased number of normal sperm.
3. Hormones and Pesticides
Unfortunately, there are many hidden dangers that lurk in our food supply, and some of them may be causing damage to your sperm. The pesticides found on produce and the hormones added to meat and dairy can have a major impact on a man’s hormonal balance. Pesticides mimic estrogens, and you may also be putting extra estrogen into your body by eating commercially produced meat and dairy. Try to eat organic and choose meat and dairy from sources that are hormone and pesticide-free.
4. Soy
Soy can mimic estrogen in the body. These false hormones can fool the body and interfere with testosterone production, which will create hormonal havoc for a male who is trying to conceive with their partner.
5. Stress
If you are under stress when you are trying to conceive, this could have an impact on your sperm production. Stress and hormonal balance are closely related, so when you are stressed out, your body may not function as normal. Regardless of whether you have a low sperm count or not, it is recommended that measures be taken to reduce stress. To this end, meditation and regular exercise are useful strategies.
