What The Experts Want You To Know About Sperm Health

So what’s going on with sperm counts?

“Sperm health is declining, there’s no doubt about it. A recent publication revealed a dramatic reduction of over 59% in sperm count in the last four decades. In 1973, sperm count among western men was 99 million sperm per millimetre of semen; by 2011, it had shrunk to 47 million. Recent data suggests only one in four men has optimal semen quality. The decline shows no sign of levelling off.” – Dr Nauf AlBendar, founder of The Womb Effect  

What’s the reason behind the decline?

“There are many. To name a few, pesticides, hormone-disrupting chemicals, pollutants, diet, mobile phones, stress, smoking, long-term exposure to a noisy environment and infections. One of the leading causes of fertility problems includes sperm disorders – this could be not having enough sperm, sperm not moving as fast as they should or sperm being the wrong shape. All three can also occur at the same time.” – Nauf

“Obesity, poor diet and a lack of exercise are key factors. Obesity and a poor diet increase oestrogen levels and insulin resistance, which directly reduces the production of testosterone, the male sex hormone. The western diet, meanwhile, is increasingly deficient in fruit and vegetables, which means sperm lack the nutrients they need to flourish. A lack of exercise – think sedentary office jobs – not only make us lazy but also warm our testicles and make testicular function sluggish. Exercise, on the other hand, boosts testosterone and blood flow and naturally helps the body stimulate sperm production. We also can’t ignore the role of stress – stress releases cortisol, which is a direct antagonist to testosterone, which decreases sexual function.” – Dr Jeff Foster, GP & founder of H3 Health

How is this affecting fertility?

“It takes two to tango. Despite women’s fertility getting most of the airtime, fertility is weighted equally between men and women. In 30% of couples, the struggle will relate to issues with the man’s fertility; in another 30% of couples, it will relate to issues with the woman’s fertility. A combination of fertility issues affecting both the man and the woman (for example, a low sperm count paired with issues with ovulation) is reported in 20% of couples who struggle to have a baby, whilst for the remaining 20% of cases, the causes of infertility are unknown.” – Lesley Gilchrist, registered midwife & co-founder of My Expert Midwife

How can you find out the state of your sperm?

“If you’ve been trying to conceive for a year without success, a semen analysis can provide more clarity, and it’s worth going private if you can. A test can be done through your GP, but these tests tend to focus solely on sperm count and not much more. A test done privately will examine things in more detail, such as the shape and DNA of the sperm. However, if a test done via your GP shows a low sperm count, you may be referred to your local fertility clinic, although waiting times can be substantial. Be wary of home testing kits, many of which only look at sperm count, not sperm health, and some work against different ranges, which means some men may get an abnormal result when everything is actually okay, and vice versa.” – Lesley 

“If you want to get tested, book in with Jonathan Ramsay, one of the UK’s best male fertility doctors – he practises in Hammersmith, Charing Cross and Harley Street as well as at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Andrology Solutions on Wimpole Street is also great, as is The Doctor’s Laboratory. A simple sperm analysis can be done via your GP, but a sperm DNA fragmentation will go into far more detail. The Doctor’s Laboratory has links with other clinics, so it’s possible to book in direct with them even if you’re struggling to get an appointment elsewhere.” – Hannah Alderson, nutritional therapist