There are different reasons for male fertility issues, one of which is low motility and poor sperm count. While talking to a doctor to find out possible causes and treatment options is the best solution for trouble conceiving, nutritional supplements and a balanced diet can be used as well. Find out which vitamins and minerals to take to improve sperm motility, raise low sperm count, and increase ejaculation volume.
Increase Sperm Count with Nutritional Supplements
As simple as it may seem, a healthy, well-balanced diet does impact male fertility. A diet lacking in vital nutrients and rich in processed foods and toxins can reduce sperm count. Try eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, soy products, poultry, and seafood. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and junk food. Try taking one or more of the following nutritional supplements under the supervision of a health care professional:
- selenium — deficiencies are connected with low sperm count
- vitamin E — helps with proper hormone production and increases sperm count
- zinc — healthy semen is rich in this mineral
- grape seed extract — may help with the quality of semen
- manganese — important for the production of sex hormones
- essential fatty acids — necessary for normal activity of reproductive glands
To increase ejaculation volume, try drinking plenty of water. Dehydration is often a cause of weaker ejaculate.
Improve Sperm Motility with Vitamin C
How does vitamin C help with increasing sperm motility and semen volume? This nutrient prevents sperm from forming clumps. It is also needed for the production of new, healthy sperm. Take vitamin C with bioflavonoids for best results.
Vitamin C is water soluble, meaning the body flushes away what it does not need. This is one nutrient that can be safely taken in large doses. Try adding 1,000 milligrams daily through supplements such as buffered ascorbic acid crystals. Also, good food sources include citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, sweet bell peppers, and papayas.
Herbs and Improving Male Fertility
Aside from a well-balanced diet and nutritional supplements, there are a handful of herbs that can help with low motility and other male fertility problems. Talk to a doctor before using herbs.
- Astragalus extract may improve sperm motility.
- Ginseng can support sexual function.
- Yin-yang-huo, or horny goatweed, is believed to increase sperm count and ejaculation volume.
Herbs which should be avoided while trying to conceive include echinacea, ginkgo biloba, and St. John's wort.
If low motility and low sperm count are the reasons behind trouble conceiving, then it may be possible to improve fertility simply with food and nutritional supplements. Improve sperm motility with vitamin C, increase sperm count with zinc, selenium, and vitamin E. Drink water and eat a balanced diet to increase ejaculation volume. A trip to the doctor is essential, but improving male fertility may be easier than you think.
References:
Balch, Phyllis, CNC. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition." (The Penguin Group, 2006).
Page, Linda. "Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone, 11th Edition" (Traditional Wisdom, 2003).
Brenna Coleman - Brenna is a freelance writer focusing on natural health and beauty. She has written hundreds of articles, helping readers find ways to ...
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