About 15% of all couples trying to get pregnant end up subfertile — meaning they find it difficult to conceive.

Factors related to the male account for 50% of all infertile cases. The most common manifestation of male factor is reduced quality of the semen. This includes sperm density (also called sperm count), sperm motility, sperm morphology (physical appearance of the spermatozoa), as well as physical properties of the seminal fluid (e.g., too viscous, too acidic), chemical composition (absence or diminished presence of certain enzymes), and the presence of antibodies or infection.

The second most important male factor involves sperm delivery: this includes coital technique, position, timing, frequency, and use of sperm-friendly lubricants.

If you are trying for pregnancy, there are many proactive choices you can make to maintain high semen quality and support your overall fertility profile.

While these self-care measures do not replace necessary medical treatment, they provide vital support to clinical therapies. Men who maintain health-conscious lifestyle habits are more likely to produce healthy sperm.

• Smoking: Significantly decreases both sperm count and motility.
• Alcohol: Chronic alcohol abuse has adverse effects on overall semen quality.
• Recreational Drugs: Marijuana and other recreational substances can damage the fertility potential of sperm cells.
• Steroids: Anabolic steroid use causes testicular shrinkage and severe infertility.
• Intense Exercise: Extreme exertion is associated with an increase in prolactin levels, which in turn can lead to diminished sperm production (oligospermia).
• Scrotal Overheating: Anything that increases scrotal temperature, such as tight underwear, prolonged hot sauna baths, or frequent hot tubs.
• Environmental Hazards: Exposure to toxins such as pesticides, lead, paint fumes, radiation, radioactive substances, mercury, boron, or benzene.
• Nutritional Factors: Malnutrition and anemia.
• Vitamin Deficiencies: Deficiencies in Zinc and Vitamin C.
• High Stress Levels: Chronic emotional or physical stress.

Avoiding these harmful factors, incorporating a nutritious diet, and cultivating a low-stress lifestyle can greatly improve your chances of higher-quality semen and enhance responsiveness to any ongoing medical treatment.