Making babies is a two-person's job. At taproot acupuncture & herbs, we help countless women at any step of their fertility journey.
However, in many cases, troubles conceiving can also arise from the male side of the equation. Acupuncture can definitely be of help in these cases too!
There are also many things you can do at home to improve your chances, whether you are trying naturally or through IVF or IUI.
Healthy swimmers
It's not just about sperm count (how many swimmers). It is also about the quality (morphology) and their ability to swim to meet the egg (motility).
Normal sperm count looks like this:
What to do at home ?
While your female partner is going through her pre-conception protocol, there are many things you can do as well on your end.
Quit Alcohol
There is no doubt that heavy alcohol consumption has a bad effect on sperm count and function. Plus, women have to stop too and appreciate the solidarity!
Quit vaping/Smoking, even pot !
All studies have shown deleterious effects of tobacco or marijuana on sperm. If you are having difficulty giving up, talk to us about using acupuncture to deal with withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Reduce Coffee
Whereas any amount of caffeine is extremely unadvisable for women (read) a little bit is fine for most men. Too much (3 cups a day) has been shown to damage sperm DNA.
Lose Weight
A Body Mass Index (BMI for short) of 25 or above indicates you might be overweight. Excess weight is associated with many risks for women and for men (read) .
Being overweight induces decreased testosterone and increased estrogen, neither of which are good for your sperm count or quality. Acupuncture can support you through a weight loss program.
Optimize timing for Sex
frequent sex improves the quality of sperm in an ejaculate
abstinence increases the quantity of sperm.
If your partner knows when she ovulates then sex daily around this time is recommended. She might be tracking her BBT, or her cervical mucus in order to determine her fertile window.
If not, then it is advisable to have sex every second day from when the period finishes and continue for 10 days (or more if your partner has a long cycle).
If libido or performance on demand is an issue speak to your practitioner about acupuncture and herbs.
Reduce stress
Infertility causes stress and in a cruel vicious cycle, stress has been shown to reduce sperm quality. Manage stress by taking some time each day to relax or exercise, and make sure you get enough sleep. Many taproot patients find acupuncture an excellent remedy for stress.
Let the jewels breathe
Don't compress your testicles. Sperm production works better at cooler temperatures (which is why the testicles are carried outside the body). We advise our male patients to avoid wearing tight jeans, tight under pants, and to avoid excessive cycling or prolonged overheating like in hot tubs.
No cell phones in the pocket
Mobile phones and laptops might also not be so safe. Some reports have shown that electromagnetic radiation from cell phones is linked with hormone changes, and that long hours of use is associated with reduced fertility.
Best not to keep your mobile phone in the pocket of your pants and to not keep your laptop right above the jewels.
Supplements & diet
Supplements: Seminal fluid needs high levels of antioxidants to protect the sperm from oxidative damage to sperm membranes and DNA during their 90 day development.
The following supplements all been shown to have an association with sperm quality.
Zinc
vitamin E
vitamin C
CoQ10
selenium
fish oil
carnitine
Diet: you don’t need to follow any special or restrictive diets; just eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and have adequate protein. Eat organic foods where possible.
Acupuncture & herbs for male fertility
Have been proven by science to have many benefits. Read here.
No matter where you are in your conception or parenting journey,
if you need support, we can help.
In addition to our own team of fertility acupuncturists, we are well-connected within the
Los Angeles - Pasadena area community to help you
find the right integrative and holistic care for you.
On our website, you can learn more about our services, and book an appointment.
If you have more questions please call our front desk, at 626-841-2991, or email us.