DO YOU REALLY need to improve your sperm?
DO YOU REALLY need to improve your sperm?
Sperm evaluation and parameters for fertility the sperm is evaluated according to four main parameters:
- The volume of sperm (how much semen per ejaculation)
- Density/concentration/count of sperm (how many million sperm/ml)
- Morphology of sperm (% of normal versus abnormal in shape)
- Motility of sperm (% of moving/swimming sperm)
If any of these parameters are found to be out of range, fertility may be compromised.
Many men present with sperm results that are borderline and deemed ‘fine’. However, there are some other considerations we like to take into account when assessing the values attributed to sperm on a sperm analysis.
Firstly, reference ranges that fall within certain parameters account for normal values within a given population. If the majority of the population has lower values, then normal will be somewhere within the range of these overall lower values. This becomes obvious when looking at research that compares changes in normal values in a population over time (see below*), for example when looking at how overall sperm counts have declined rapidly in the 80 years.
Secondly, due to technological advancements in IVF that allow doctors to use techniques such as Intercytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI (where they select the best possible sperm and inject it directly into the egg), low sperm counts are not considered to be much of a problem. However, from a Chinese medicine point of view, we would consider it imperative to the future health of the baby to improve the condition of the sperm. This will also increase the likelihood of a healthy embryo developing when the egg and the sperm meet.
If we consider, for example, that a woman who is a non-smoker has been shown to have a 30% higher chance of miscarriage when her partner is a smoker – compared to a couple who are both non-smokers – we can see how sperm health affects embryo viability. Studies have also shown that fathers with lower sperm counts have an increased risk of birth defect and miscarriage rates.
Why do you have poor Sperm quality, motility, or count?
Sadly, one in five Australian couples have trouble conceiving, and male infertility is a contributing factor in 50% of these cases. As men age, the quality and number of their sperm decrease (a man’s average sperm volume drops by 20% between the ages of 30 and 50 years old). The older the man, the longer the length of time it will take for his female partner to conceive. This is often coupled with an increased incidence of miscarriage, regardless of her age. Sperm motility (i.e. the sperms’ ‘swimming power’) also drops 3.1% for each advancing year of age and the percentage of sperm who swim in a purposeful manner decreases by 5% in the same period. Over and above these typical declines with age, there is a much more concerning picture to be aware of.
Male infertility now affects one in twenty men and 40% of male infertility cases are due to poor sperm quality. Over the past 30 years, we have seen a 30% decrease in average sperm health within the general male population. The average male sperm count has dropped 45% from 113 million/ml to 66 million/ml and the number of men with low sperm counts has tripled. What this means is that the average sperm count of a 30-year-old today is about a quarter of what it was in 1925.
The cause of this stark decrease appears to be increased exposure to environmental pollutants, either during the time in the womb or later in life. Environmental pollutants have a disruptive effect of an endocrine system called Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals in many commonly used plastics such as BPAs. Research also tells us that pregnancies of the partners of men exposed to environmental pollutants are also affected, experiencing higher stillbirths and premature delivery. Read more about Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals and male health factors here.
Does sperm quality impact fertility if doing IVF or ART?
Sometimes if doing IVF we are told not really, however, from a holistic point of view of fertility, poor sperm parameters can be markers of overall cell health, and also impact your offspring’s outcomes, so we think they are …so we think it is very important! Although ART/ IVF or TESE positively impacts sperm selection, a holistic approach to improving sperm integrity is only going to yield better results, as it means selecting the best sperm from a better bunch!!
The good news?
The great news is, along with Chinese medicine and acupuncture, and the adoption of some diet, lifestyle, nutritional, and other changes, things can change for the better in just a few months.
How acupuncture may improve sperm quality?
Acupuncture has been shown to have a significant effect on the motility of sperm in certain trials. It is thought that the mechanism for this may be by improving the zinc/cadmium ratio. Cadmium causes thicker semen, which slows the sperm, whilst zinc improves sperm motility. By positively impacting the ratio of zinc, the percentage of moving/swimming sperm may improve.
It is also thought that SOD, an antioxidant that increases both sperm motility and count, may be positively influenced by acupuncture. Furthermore, acupuncture is thought to positively impact levels of met-enkephalin (an opioid that improves sperm mobility). Acupuncture may also influence sperm morphology, and some studies have shown that it may improve the fertilisation rate of ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, an IVF procedure).
Length and type of treatment
Sperm take between 70 and 90 days to fully mature, so in an ideal world, acupuncture treatment is commenced 3 months prior to starting to conceive. However, not everyone has the luxury of time. Some studies suggest benefit from acupuncture after only 5 weeks of bi-weekly treatments, and so starting as soon as possible is recommended.
Ten weekly or bi-weekly treatments are considered to be optimal due to sperm maturation time, although even 4-5 weekly treatments can still offer benefits.
Acupuncture points for improving sperm quality are located on the lower back, abdomen, and lower leg. These points are used to promote blood flow to the pelvis and testes, improve a person’s strength and vitality, promote good-quality sleep and relieve stress.
In Chinese Medicine, we believe that your whole well-being is important to the health of your sperm and so any other health problems or symptoms are addressed simultaneously during your acupuncture session.
Acupuncture to improve Sperm: A number of randomized controlled trials and pilot studies have investigated the effect of acupuncture and laser or electro-stimulation of acupuncture points, on sperm quality in men with poor motility, morphology, a varicocele or low sperm counts. Early indications of benefit are encouraging further research and larger trials.
Keep in mind if you do not like needles… laser acupuncture, diet and lifestyle advice plus nutritional supplements and Chinese herbs can have a big impact!!!
CLICK HERE FOR Our blog on Tips for Sperm health
Watch our Making it on Monday session- a weekly workshop for mums and dads in the making for 5 tips to improve sperm health.
You can find our clinics in Sydney CBD, Alexandria and Westmead and on the Central Coast and in Melbourne.
Learn more about how we can help you if are trying to conceive clinic here or book see one of our dedicated Fertility Chinese Medicine practitioners.
We look forward to working with you to improve your outcomes soon!
Author:
Amy Forth
Amy Forth
Amy Forth is Managing Director of the Acupuncture Pregnancy Clinic, a clinic that is an industry leader in evidence-based Integrative Traditional Chinese Medicine focusing on reproductive health, women‘s Health, and Pregnancy care. Amy is renowned in Chinese Medicine as an influential practitioner, educator, and researcher focusing on IVF support, fertility, and women’s health. Amy has been in practice since 2008, and is known for her warm, compassionate and evidence-based approach.
