Sperm health is a very important factor for conception. Unhealthy sperm or a low sperm count can cause various problems in conceiving and can sometimes even make conception impossible. It is, therefore, very important to ensure proper health of the semen. This can be achieved in various ways, as multiple factors affect the quality and quantity of the sperm.
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In simple terms, sperm quality or semen quality is the ability of the semen to achieve fertilization. Some of the factors taken into account while measuring sperm quality are:
The above parameters help assess the quality of the sperm and predict the fertilizing capability of the sperm. The parameters that determine the sperm quality are affected by various direct and indirect factors.
Some of the factors that play a vital role in determining the quality of the sperm are:
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It is difficult to control most factors responsible for sperm quality (like age, genetics, trauma, exposure to chemicals etc). However, factors related to diet and lifestyle, which equally impact the quality of the sperm, can be easily controlled. Studies have found that obesity is one of the major factors in contemporary times that has affected the quality and quantity of sperm in men. Obesity is a growing epidemic, which must be controlled, as it affects various aspects of individual health including reproductive health.
Recent studies show that obesity is detrimental to the quality and quantity of sperm. A study, based on computer-aided sperm analysis, assessed more than a thousand men and found that obesity was linked to a lower value of sperm count, lower volume of semen, lower concentration, motility, and greater sperm defects. The study concluded that in obese men, the health of the sperm is compromised both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Even when the semen parameters were compared between infertile obese men and infertile normal-weighted men, the quality, quantity, and morphology of sperm in obese men were poor as compared to those with a normal weight. This shows the extent to which obesity affects the quality as well as the quantity of the sperm and the overall reproductive health of the individual. Studies also suggest that parental obesity may also affect the fertility of the children.
Overweight people struggling with infertility should seriously consider losing weight when trying to conceive. Though getting rid of obesity is always beneficial, it becomes especially important for people facing fertility problems. A healthy body weight can increase the quality as well as the quantity of sperm. Obesity is also linked to infertility in women, and hence women should also consider shedding extra weight before conception.
Cloudnine's fertility center has some of the best infertility specialists who are highly experienced in treating infertility. Cloudnine is one of the best fertility hospitals and our highly qualified team of doctors and state of the art facilities provide you with precise diagnosis and best possible treatment for infertility problems.