Super Sperm

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Super sperm… the winner takes it all

One sperm is all it takes to fertilise the woman’s egg. It is a race, only the fastest swimmer (motility) with the best shape (morphology) gets to penetrate the outside layer of the egg declaring it the champion. 

Male fertility is under increasing threat with studies supporting a sharp decline in the number and quality of sperm over the past two decades.  The proportion of normally formed sperm has declined by about a third, being described as being ‘poor swimmers, misshapen and ineffective’.

Why so many, when we only need one to do the job?

 Creating a hard-fought contest is nature’s way of ensuring the survival of the fittest.  Each ejaculate produces around 100 million sperm. The sperm need to navigate the vagina, through the fallopian tube and be there, ready and waiting for the ovulated egg. Many sperm can survive for up to five days, but it is best to count on two days. Ramping up sexual activity two days before ovulation is being ready and prepared.

Why the demise of healthy sperm?

Like many other examples in nature, humans are under threat of our less-than-healthy environment. Modern food contains herbicides, pesticides and fungicides unless it is organically grown. It is of a much poorer quality than the diet our grandparents consumed - it’s increasingly processed, nutrient-depleted and sugar-laden. Did you know that conventional broccoli has 33 pesticide residues – 5 are carcinogens, 6 are neurotoxins, and 15 disrupt hormones?

Other contributing factors include:

  • Endocrine/hormone disruptors -think plastics, phthalates

  • Stress - physical, mental, emotional

  • EMF ‘s – electro- magnetic frequencies

  • Rising rate of prescription drugs

Creating champion sperm

What greater gift to your child than undertaking preconception-care and preparation? Allow 3-4 months to grow quality sperm.  Spermatogenesis takes around 3 months from the get-go. What you choose to do in this timeframe will impact quality of form and movement and greatly increase sperm numbers.

  • Eat real food

  • Tend to relationships

  • De stress -  yes, you can change or adjust how you live and work

  • Green-up your environment, exchange commercial personal- care and cleaning   products and make your own using essential oils and base products like vinegar and bi carb soda.

  • Ditch any products containing fragrances (endocrine disruptors)

  • Get that laptop off your lap

  • More sex and more ejaculation… prolonged abstinences decrease sperm quality and can lead to oxidative stress reducing quality of sperm

Let’s investigate

In the event of a conception being difficult to achieve, an investigation will assess number, morphology and motility. Know that the situation can dramatically change over the course of a few months. Prior to each assessment be sure that you are well and in good form. Even a recent stressful event prior to collection can impact the sperm result.

 Nutritional support can help

  • DHA omega 3 fish oils and cod liver oil (flavoured), wild salmon can improve sperm morphology and motility

  • Vitamin C can improve sperm quality and protect against DNA damage

  • Zinc and folinic acid increases sperm volume

deborah pym