New to Bounty?
By Fertility Expert, Leah Hechtman
Deciding to have a baby is an exciting time for couples, but it can become stressful if fertility issues are present.
Infertility statistics in Australia indicate that one in six couples experience infertility.
We know that male fertility accounts for one-third of cases, female fertility another one-third of cases and the remaining one-third is attributed to combined male and female issues.
When we consider male fertility, we focus on the making and transport of healthy sperm. Understanding sperm health is an important part of improving fertility and chances of conception. Two-thirds of infertile men have been shown to have a problem producing sperm.
Here are some facts on sperm health and what to be aware of when you are trying to conceive.
One in six couples experience infertility and male fertility accounts for one-third of cases.
An important test for male fertility is a semen analysis that looks at the health of a man’s sperm. The main sperm health parameters analysed include:
A semen sample reflects a number of health aspects on the day of collection, so diagnosis is never made on one sample. Semen quality can change between samples. Even for fertile men – illness, fever and infection can lower sperm quality. A healthcare practitioner will advise on the time frame recommended between analyses depending on the initial results.
While it appears, there are many factors needed for healthy sperm, it’s reassuring to know there are steps men can take to increase the health of their sperm when trying to conceive.
Understanding sperm health is an important part of improving fertility and chances of conception.
According to Andrology Australia, several lifestyle factors can cause sperm damage, including smoking, being overweight, overconsumption of alcohol, ageing and exposure to harmful chemicals.
Recommendations for improving sperm health include:
Fertility is something couples should work towards together. Improving fertility improves the overall health of the couple and the health of future children. If you and your partner have been trying to conceive without success, you should both speak to a healthcare professional.
Leah Hechtman is an experienced and respected clinician who specialises in fertility, pregnancy and reproductive health for men and women.
To find out more about Leah, visit Natural Health Fertility and visit Ubiquinol to play in supporting male fertility