Center for Reproductive and Fetal Medicine

FERTILITY TIPS FOR HIM

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FERTILITY TIPS FOR HIM

While women are the ones who carry and give birth to the baby, men have an equally important role in the conception process. If the man is unable to produce good quality sperm, then conception can become quite difficult. The main reasons for male infertility can be low sperm count, slow sperm motility, abnormal sperm morphology (size and shape) and poor sperm quality. Here are some factors that affect male fertility and tips that can help a man improve his chances of conceiving.  

Healthy body weight

Men who are overweight are more likely to experience fertility difficulties. Being overweight can lead to hormonal imbalances in the body, which in turn can affect sperm count. Obesity can also affect the genetic material in sperm cells leading to poor quality sperm. Being underweight has also been linked to a low sperm count. Maintaining a healthy weight with a balanced diet will allow for the best results in producing the right number of viable sperm.

Moderate exercise

Regular exercise can be beneficial in maintaining an improved sperm count, as well as maintaining normal hormone levels, metabolism and weight. Regular exercise reduces stress and can improve overall health in both men and women. Cardiovascular exercise, such as running, improves the overall health of the heart and blood vessels. If cycling is your outlet, there are "fertility friendly" bike seats that don't constrict and overheat the genitals. While regular exercise is beneficial, overexertion and overtraining can have negative effects on male fertility. This can lead to decreased testosterone production and a decrease in sperm count. Taking performance-enhancing drugs, especially testosterone, can also inhibit fertility through significantly reduced sperm count and shrinking of the testicles.

Age

Women aren't the only ones with a biological clock. As men age, sperm production, motility, and quality may decline. If you are planning to delay fatherhood, it makes sense to have a sperm analysis to look at sperm count, movement and shape. There is also an association between the age of the male partner and a variety of medical conditions in the child. You can also freeze your sperm for later use to ensure the best possible when you are ready to become parents.

Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking, in both men and women, makes it harder to conceive a baby, worsens the results of sperm analysis and increases the chance of miscarriage. Marijuana use also negatively affects sperm health. Heavy drinking can also be a factor in reduced sperm quality and increased miscarriage rates. Men should keep the amount of alcohol to a minimum when trying to conceive.

Boxers Vs Briefs

The much talked about battle of boxers or briefs has been an ongoing topic for quite some time now. Although it is not certain that switching to boxers will increase the chances of a pregnancy, the main point is to reduce the temperature in this area. Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to a reduced sperm count. Try to avoid long periods in the hot tub or sauna. Sperm count can return to normal in a few months if men avoid high-intensity heat in this area.

Visit a fertility clinic

If you're trying to conceive without success, seeing a fertility specialist at a fertility clinic can help. The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Fetal Medicine – Dr. Alexandros Traianos offers a variety of treatments for couples who have difficulty conceiving.

Center for Reproductive and Fetal Medicine

Effective doctor-patient communication is vital to providing high-quality health care. Any communication regarding your medical profile (getting results, instructions, answering questions, concerns) will be done directly with the doctor. This means no midwife or secretary will interrupt your conversations. Instead, if you call with any concerns, they will be there right away to address your needs. Contact us by calling 694 649 8771 or by completing the relevant Contact Form.

Dr. Alexandros Traianos

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FREQUENT QUESTIONS

The association of IVF drugs with cancer risk is a major concern for women enrolled in these programs. But the plethora of bibliographic reports collected from credible scientific studies and published in reputable medical journals worldwide are reassuring and do not confirm this concern.

Of course not. In about a third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factor), while in a third of cases, it is due to the man (male factor). The remaining one-third is due to both (both men and women) or even to unknown factors.

The quantity and quality of a man's sperm can be affected by his health and lifestyle. Some factors that can reduce the quantity and / or quality of sperm are:

  • the alcohol
  • drugs
  • environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead
  • smoking
  • health problems
  • medicines
  • radiotherapy and chemotherapy
  • the age

Success rates vary at each IVF Center. Very important factors are also the age of the woman, the levels of her hormones and of course the sperm of the husband. Rates generally range from 45% or slightly higher for women up to 35 years old.

Infertility is defined as the failure to conceive after one year (or 6 months, if it is a woman over 35) with normal, regular sexual intercourse. In other words, when a year passes without the woman becoming pregnant, the couple should consult their doctor to determine the cause of the pregnancy and then treat it. We must all, however, be aware and not forget that the age factor is the most critical for female fertility and that the individualized approach of each couple is the "golden key" that solves the problem.

The number of treatment cycles a woman can undergo is not specified. It is certain that in our country there are high level obstetricians-gynecologists and organized infertility treatment centers, which offer impeccable medical services at this level. If there are correct indications (eg ovaries that respond to stimulation therapy, good quality endometrium, etc.) the success rate -especially with the use of newer techniques and biotechnological drugs, which show increased bioactivity compared to conventional drugs from urine- totals approximately 65%-70% after 4 cycles of treatment.

At the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Dr. Traianos we offer egg / sperm cryopreservation services for those who have a personal or medical reason and need this service. We use the most modern vitrification technique in the freezing of sperm and eggs.

The collection of eggs takes 10-15 minutes, it is not painful, it is done under intoxication and after the end of the process you return to your activities.

In general, experts agree that the fact that a couple has already had a child can be considered evidence that there is no infertility problem in the first place. It is like a small test that has been done and proves that they "succeeded" at least once. On the other hand, we need to know that in the meantime things may have changed and a problem may have arisen (eg the man may have had some inflammation that affects the quality of his sperm or has mediated something that affects female fertility: an inflammation, a gynecological surgery, an abortion, etc.). In any case, if a reasonable period of time (one year) passes and a couple can not achieve a pregnancy, then he should with the help of his doctor investigate if there has been a problem that causes infertility.