How to improve your sperm
Hormones. Say this word and most people will think “women”. If you think “men” you will most likely focus on testosterone. After all, that’s the male hormone, right? Well, yes and no.
Imbalanced hormones can result in symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal weight gain, gynaecomastia, male pattern baldness, depression, insomnia, infertility, as well as low sperm numbers and poor quality. In this blog you’ll learn that high testosterone can deplete sperm numbers and why men need some oestrogen, and lots more.
Guessing rarely provides accurate information. If you want to check your hormones, then testing is best. Serum, or blood tests, provide indicative information while urine provides much more detailed results enabling your practitioner to properly assess how best to support your needs.
If you prefer blood, make sure you have your blood drawn in the morning – preferably as close to 6:00 am as possible. It is also important that you check all of the following:
Testosterone – both free and bound, SHBG, LH, FSH, GnRH, DHEA, and Oestrogen.
It is also important to know your cholesterol levels as this is essential for hormone production.
For functional testing I recommend Precision Analytical’s DUTCH test. You’ll find more information on tests in Appendix 3 in my book.
Men also need a small amount of oestrogen as receptors are located throughout the body including the brain, penis, testicles and adipocytes (fatty tissue). Correct amounts help support libido, erectile function, sperm production while deficiency is linked to depression, bone and muscle loss, and sexual dysfunction.
What if there’s too much oestrogen?
As men age, prostate levels of oestradiol gradually rise while testosterone declines. This decline in testosterone leaves too much oestradiol creating prostate problems.
There are certain pathways in the body which contribute to a faster rise in oestrogens. Factors that accelerate rising oestrogen in men include:
· Insulin resistance, diabetes and metabolic syndrome
· Obesity (“beer belly”)
· Nutritional deficiencies
· Environmental toxins and chemicals
Fortunately, there are several ways of reducing excess oestrogen by adjusting lifestyle and diet. In addition to the DUTCH assessment, a reputable DNA test can also show where your body may require assistance in clearing/reducing elevated hormones and toxins. You’ll find a lot more information in my book.
Testosterone is made during sleep. If you get less than five hours of quality sleep at night, your testosterone levels will reduce by 10% to 15%.
Support healthy sleep for balanced hormone levels by:
· Avoiding blue/white light 1-2 hours before bed
· Avoiding alcohol and sugar before bed, preferably after 2 pm
· Avoiding caffeine intake after 12 noon
· Winding down 1-2 hours before bed – read a real book, relax, journal, meditate
· Avoiding other factors that disrupt your sleep such as pets, partner, children, noises, mould, and electronic devices.
Stress, especially chronic stress and raised cortisol levels lower testosterone. In fact, it has been said that “adrenaline is the killer of erections.”
Other factors include brain injury (think contact sports), some medications (particularly SSRI/SNRIs), impaired methylation, and environmental toxins especially bisphenol and PCB exposure.
In fact, the four most critical impacts on sperm quality are:
But a word of warning. Raising your testosterone levels through medications or injections without proper testing can reduce your sperm count to zero!
As with most functional imbalances, having low testosterone can have many underlying causes which must be addressed to achieve long term results.
Learn more about what impacts your fertility, hormones and sperm in my book “How to Have a Healthy Baby”. Get your copy today.
