{"id":747,"date":"2026-04-21T04:39:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=747"},"modified":"2026-04-21T04:39:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:39:00","slug":"is-your-sperm-healthy-doctors-explain-how-to-tell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=747","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Sperm Healthy? Doctors Explain How to Tell."},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"content-header css-dxyhk8 e1f1sunr9\">\n<section data-lazy-id=\"P0-15\" data-hydrated=\"1\">\n<div class=\"css-z207vh ejvijei0\">\n<div class=\"css-ig50jk e1f1sunr2\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-cdk9js e1fy5ocq0\">\n<div class=\"css-1stsx95 e1fy5ocq4\" role=\"toolbar\" aria-label=\"Quick actions\">\n<div class=\"css-15r3jqf e1fy5ocq2\">\n<div class=\"no-print css-w7h146 ejynsbr8\" aria-label=\"Share article\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"css-k008qs et2g3wt0\" data-journey-hide=\"true\">\n<div class=\"standard-container content-container article-container css-1q1kaac et2g3wt4\">\n<div class=\"content-lead css-1f8o566 et2g3wt6\">\n<div class=\"content-lead-image css-sm2oir e17huqc62\" data-theme-key=\"lead-image-wrapper\" data-journey-blur=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-st57lt e17huqc61\"><picture class=\"css-1oxikel e1i0vlu30\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0\" media=\"(min-width: 100rem)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&amp;resize=1800:*\" media=\"(min-width: 90rem)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&amp;resize=1400:*\" media=\"(min-width: 75rem)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&amp;resize=1200:*\" media=\"(min-width: 73.75rem)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&amp;resize=1024:*\" media=\"(min-width: 64rem)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=0.667xw:1.00xh;0.199xw,0&amp;resize=980:*\" media=\"(min-width: 48rem)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=0.667xw:1.00xh;0.199xw,0&amp;resize=640:*\" media=\"(max-width: 48rem)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sperm world\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/sperm-world-royalty-free-image-1640031384.jpg?crop=0.667xw:1.00xh;0.199xw,0&amp;resize=640:*\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" alt=\"sperm world\" width=\"2126\" height=\"1415\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"css-lfu1rj e1geg53v2\" data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\">Toshiro Shimada<\/span><span class=\"css-1jur68e e1geg53v0\">\/\/<\/span><span class=\"css-lfu1rj e1geg53v1\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body-content article-body standard-body-content css-n3hm4j et2g3wt7\" data-journey-body=\"standard-article\">\n<div class=\"css-hl6xtf e1wzc3k51\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/clock-regular.4ddebeb.svg\" alt=\"Estimated read time\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" \/><span class=\"css-deygkq e1wzc3k50\">8\u00a0min read<\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"body-dropcap css-1xzgd0b emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"0\"><strong data-node-id=\"0.0\">UNTIL YOU&#8217;RE READY<\/strong>\u00a0to have a child, you might not think much about the\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a28182240\/junk-food-irreversible-sperm-damage-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a28182240\/junk-food-irreversible-sperm-damage-study\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"health of your sperm\" data-node-id=\"0.2\"><u data-node-id=\"0.2.0\">health of your sperm<\/u><\/a>. That was true for\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a60791002\/colton-underwood-male-infertility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a60791002\/colton-underwood-male-infertility\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Colton Underwood\" data-node-id=\"0.4\">Colton Underwood<\/a>, former star of &#8220;The Bachelor.&#8221; He recently opened up about his infertility and the \u201csperm rehab\u201d he committed to, as he and his husband set out on the path to fatherhood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\">Underwood told\u00a0<em data-node-id=\"1.1\">Men\u2019s Health<\/em>\u00a0that he hoped to raise awareness about men\u2019s struggles with sperm counts and fertility\u2014something that affects about\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/17201-male-infertility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/17201-male-infertility\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"15 percent of men\" data-node-id=\"1.3\"><u data-node-id=\"1.3.0\">15 percent of men<\/u><\/a>. A 2020\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32168194\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32168194\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study review\" data-node-id=\"1.5\"><u data-node-id=\"1.5.0\">study review<\/u><\/a>\u00a0found that\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a23843787\/low-sperm-count-fertility-health-risks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a23843787\/low-sperm-count-fertility-health-risks\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"sperm counts\" data-node-id=\"1.7\"><u data-node-id=\"1.7.0\">sperm counts<\/u><\/a>\u00a0have dropped more than 50 percent globally in the past five decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"2\">There are ways to tell how healthy your sperm is\u2014but looking at it isn&#8217;t one of them. \u201cA semen analysis is one of the best ways to determine if you have healthy sperm,\u201d says reproductive endocrinologist\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.get-carrot.com\/profile\/asima-ahmad-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.get-carrot.com\/profile\/asima-ahmad-md\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Asima Ahmad\" data-node-id=\"2.1\"><u data-node-id=\"2.1.0\">Asima Ahmad<\/u><\/a>, M.D., chief medical officer and co-founder of Carrot Fertility.<\/p>\n<section class=\"embed\" data-embed=\"watch-next\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-16\" data-node-id=\"3\" data-hydrated=\"1\">\n<div class=\"css-e3gw2c e1a8voem5\" data-embed=\"watch-next\">\n<div class=\"css-x74dlh e1a8voem4\">\n<div class=\"css-1xz1gs1 e1a8voem3\"><span class=\"css-10jk6km e1a8voem2\"><span class=\"css-0 e1a8voem1\">More From Men&#8217;s Health<\/span><\/span><span class=\"css-1tma2j5 e1a8voem0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"__resp-container css-1wrcwp9 eksj1ta0\">\n<div class=\"video-player css-1v31zvn video-player-wrapper\" data-embed-id=\"9eaa824a-8954-4d51-895f-e1873b16b395\">\n<div><button><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:;base64,<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"#ffffff\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 256\">\n\t<path d=\"M240\" alt=\"Play video\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" \/><\/button><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"poster-image\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/vidthumb\/0f669eab-6608-4738-80c1-a1791c196a86\/thumb_1920x1080.0000001.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top\" alt=\"Video poster\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\">The test measures the quality and\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a38133382\/pollution-may-be-lowering-your-sperm-count\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a38133382\/pollution-may-be-lowering-your-sperm-count\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"quantity of your semen\" data-node-id=\"4.1\"><u data-node-id=\"4.1.0\">quantity of your semen<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and sperm to help you uncover a fertility issue. It\u2019s the most accurate way to know where your sperm stands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"5\">\u201cA sperm specimen needs to be collected and looked at through a microscope to evaluate if it&#8217;s healthy,\u201d says\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/txfertility.com\/fertility-specialists\/kaylen-silverberg-md\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/txfertility.com\/fertility-specialists\/kaylen-silverberg-md\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Kaylen Silverberg\" data-node-id=\"5.1\"><u data-node-id=\"5.1.0\">Kaylen Silverberg<\/u><\/a>, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at Texas Fertility Center in Austin. \u201cThat&#8217;s because the factors that indicate healthy sperm can&#8217;t be seen with the naked eye.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\">Several factors can affect your sperm quantity and quality, including\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a28355104\/sperm-freezing-in-40s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a28355104\/sperm-freezing-in-40s\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"age\" data-node-id=\"6.1\"><u data-node-id=\"6.1.0\">age<\/u><\/a>, medications, health conditions, diet, exercise levels, and\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a42698038\/free-testosterone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a42698038\/free-testosterone\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"testosterone levels\" data-node-id=\"6.3\"><u data-node-id=\"6.3.0\">testosterone levels<\/u><\/a>, explains Dr. Ahmad. Here\u2019s what you should know about healthy sperm and some signs that yours might be doing well.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-does-healthy-sperm-look-like\" class=\"body-h2 css-1ju5ws3 emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"7\">What Does Healthy Sperm Look Like?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"8\"><strong data-node-id=\"8.0\">FIRST, IT&#8217;S IMPORTANT\u00a0<\/strong>to know the difference between semen and sperm. Semen is the thick, white substance released when you ejaculate. Semen contains sperm, which are the cells that include genetic material needed to reproduce.<\/p>\n<section class=\"embed\" data-embed=\"editorial-link\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-17\" data-node-id=\"9\" data-hydrated=\"1\">\n<aside class=\"css-1tigmfy e94w1mj13\">\n<h2 class=\"css-1bdsvjl e94w1mj11\"><span class=\"css-0 e94w1mj10\">Related Story<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"css-c4s2gi e94w1mj12\">\n<li class=\"css-8zqqp e94w1mj9\"><a class=\"css-1jv459k e1socmtw0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a60791002\/colton-underwood-male-infertility\/\" data-theme-key=\"base-link\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Colton Underwood Goes to Sperm Rehab\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Editorial Links\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/health\/a60791002\/colton-underwood-male-infertility\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-1l0uuk1 e94w1mj6\" title=\"Colton Underwood Goes to Sperm Rehab\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/coltonunderwood-lead-66450c5c6e825.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.948xh;0,0&amp;resize=300:*\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"100%\" \/><\/a>\n<div class=\"css-18pywum e94w1mj7\">\n<h3 class=\"css-18qba2c e94w1mj8\">Colton Underwood Goes to Sperm Rehab<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"article-ad-breaker-leaderboard-0-wrapper\" class=\"breaker-ad css-losvwb e1spmc111\" data-type=\"breaker-ad\" data-journey-unblur=\"true\">\n<div class=\"gpt-breaker-container breaker-ad clearfix css-172ho3e e1spmc110\" data-journey-unblur=\"true\">\n<div id=\"article-ad-breaker-leaderboard-0\" class=\"ad-container css-1l23eio ewg5wdb1\" data-slot-type=\"breaker\">\n<div id=\"gpt_lb_0\" class=\"gpt-adslot noskim\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/36117602\/hdm-menshealth\/health\/breaker_4__container__\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\">According to Dr. Silverberg, when your doctor checks the health of your sperm, they&#8217;re primarily looking at three factors:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"11\">\n<li data-node-id=\"11.0\"><strong data-node-id=\"11.0.0\">Sperm count<\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"11.0.1\">:<\/strong>\u00a0The number of sperm in a volume of semen.<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"11.1\"><strong data-node-id=\"11.1.0\">Sperm motility:<\/strong>\u00a0The percentage of sperm that are alive and swimming.<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"11.2\"><strong data-node-id=\"11.2.0\">Sperm morphology:<\/strong>\u00a0The percentage of sperm with a healthy size and shape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\">Sperm is examined under a microscope to see if they\u2019re \u201cusing their tail to swim in a straight line,\u201d explains\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaobgyn.org\/profile\/lauren-bishop-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaobgyn.org\/profile\/lauren-bishop-md\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Lauren Bishop\" data-node-id=\"12.1\"><u data-node-id=\"12.1.0\">Lauren Bishop<\/u><\/a>, M.D., a reproductive endocrinology and fertility specialist at Columbia University. \u201cThey will also look at the head to make sure it appears oval. The tail should be long and move smoothly through the fluid.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\">A\u00a0<a class=\"body-link product-links css-10fnnmt e1aq0z090\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/low-sperm-count\/diagnosis-treatment\/drc-20374591#:~:text=Semen%20analysis%20results,million%20sperm%20total%20per%20ejaculate.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/low-sperm-count\/diagnosis-treatment\/drc-20374591#:~:text=Semen%20analysis%20results,million%20sperm%20total%20per%20ejaculate.\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"normal semen analysis\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"c2695894-d140-4e34-8d7a-2086216b5785\" data-node-id=\"13.1\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/low-sperm-count\/diagnosis-treatment\/drc-20374591#:~:text=Semen%20analysis%20results,million%20sperm%20total%20per%20ejaculate.\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/low-sperm-count\/diagnosis-treatment\/drc-20374591#:~:text=Semen%20analysis%20results,million%20sperm%20total%20per%20ejaculate.\" data-affiliate=\"false\" data-affiliate-url=\"\" data-affiliate-network=\"\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"0ae89873-e0cb-4526-925e-7c753964240c\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" data-vars-ga-axid=\"2835b2be-7374-4cdf-ac32-a57788b51559\"><u data-node-id=\"13.1.0\">normal semen analysis<\/u><\/a>\u00a0consists of a sperm concentration of at least 15 million sperm per millimeter of semen, motility of at least 30 percent, and at least 4 percent normally shaped sperm, according to the\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"http:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/44261\/9789241547789_eng.pdf;jsessionid=F577E96867A29CC002AE25F470B4FFF3?sequence=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"http:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/44261\/9789241547789_eng.pdf;jsessionid=F577E96867A29CC002AE25F470B4FFF3?sequence=1\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"World Health Organization\" data-node-id=\"13.3\"><u data-node-id=\"13.3.0\">World Health Organization<\/u><\/a>. A low sperm count or sperm that doesn\u2019t move well could lead to infertility.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"14\">While you can\u2019t tell by looking at your semen if it contains healthy sperm, Dr. Ahmad suggests talking to your doctor if you notice any changes, such as that semen is thicker or waterier than usual, discolored yellowish or greenish, or contains traces of blood. This might signal an infection, injury, or something else.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"signs-that-you-likely-have-healthy-sperm\" class=\"body-h2 css-1ju5ws3 emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"15\">Signs That You Likely Have Healthy Sperm<\/h2>\n<p class=\"body-text css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"16\"><strong data-node-id=\"16.0\">SEVERAL HABITS AND\u00a0<\/strong>characteristics are associated with healthy sperm. Still, the only way to truly know how healthy yours is is to get tested. But, here are some signs your sperm may be healthy:<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"17\">You hit the gym regularly.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\">Men who get their blood pumping with moderate to vigorous exercise have a higher sperm concentration than guys who don&#8217;t work out at that intensity,\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31858122\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31858122\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"research\" data-node-id=\"18.1\"><u data-node-id=\"18.1.0\">research<\/u><\/a>\u00a0shows. Exercise may increase the expression of antioxidants throughout the body, so regular gym sessions could actually prevent free radicals from damaging sperm cells.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\">Regular exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, Dr. Ahmad says. This could lower your risk for obesity and other chronic health conditions, which have been shown to\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3521747\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3521747\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"lower sperm counts\" data-node-id=\"19.1\"><u data-node-id=\"19.1.0\">lower sperm counts<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"20\">You have a slimmer waistline.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"21\"><a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0002916522002003#:~:text=A%20higher%20male%20WC%20was,for%20height%20(Table%202).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0002916522002003#:~:text=A%20higher%20male%20WC%20was,for%20height%20(Table%202).\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Research\" data-node-id=\"21.0\"><u data-node-id=\"21.0.0\">Research<\/u><\/a>\u00a0shows that a larger male waist circumference has been linked to lower sperm counts. Carrying too much weight in your midsection could interfere with the release of sex hormones, as well as the production and development of sperm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\">\u201cIf someone has a smaller waistline as compared to someone who may have obesity or metabolic syndrome with a larger waistline, the former may have better sperm quality, but other things need to be taken into consideration beyond that,\u201d Dr. Ahmad explains.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"23\">You have a softer-looking face.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"24\">Having a masculine-looking mug might actually hurt you below the belt, according to a\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/jeb.12446\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/jeb.12446\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-node-id=\"24.1\"><u data-node-id=\"24.1.0\">study<\/u><\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0<em data-node-id=\"24.3\">Journal of Evolutionary Biology<\/em>. The researchers discovered that men who had faces that were rated as manly\u2014i.e., wider and broader\u2014tended to have poorer semen quality than more feminine-faced guys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"25\">One possible reason is the \u201ctrade-off hypothesis.\u201d Simply put, men have a fixed amount of energy available to devote to reproductive resources, and that energy must be distributed to a number of different components.<\/p>\n<section id=\"article-ad-breaker-leaderboard-1-wrapper\" class=\"breaker-ad css-losvwb e1spmc111\" data-type=\"breaker-ad\" data-journey-unblur=\"true\">\n<div class=\"gpt-breaker-container breaker-ad clearfix css-172ho3e e1spmc110\" data-journey-unblur=\"true\">\n<div id=\"article-ad-breaker-leaderboard-1\" class=\"ad-container css-1l23eio ewg5wdb1\" data-slot-type=\"breaker\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\">\u201cIf a male consumes more resources on semen production, he may have fewer resources available for developing attractive secondary sexual traits, like facial masculinity,\u201d says study author Jukka Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Ph.D.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"27\">You stay away from saunas and hot tubs.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\">The scrotum is a few degrees cooler than the core body temperature, which is ideal for sperm, Dr. Ahmad says. Activities like saunas, hot tubs, or hot baths could increase the temperature of the testes and potentially lower sperm count.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"29\">In a 2013\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23411620\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23411620\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-node-id=\"29.1\"><u data-node-id=\"29.1.0\">study<\/u><\/a>, healthy Finnish men with normal sperm counts spent 15 minutes in a sauna a few times a week for three months and experienced lower sperm counts. The saunas lowered their scrotal temps by 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The decrease lasted for about three months but returned to normal after six months. The study didn\u2019t track their fertility, however.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"30\">You take steps to protect yourself from Covid.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\"><a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/993399\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/993399\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Research\" data-node-id=\"31.0\"><u data-node-id=\"31.0.0\">Research<\/u><\/a>\u00a0presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology found that men who had Covid had lower sperm counts for longer than three months after they recovered\u2014and the sperm they do have are not strong swimmers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"32\">Sperm counts can dip by as much as 20 percent. The study authors believe the findings mean Covid could be capable of doing long-term damage to the male reproductive tract, even for men who\u2019ve had mild cases. This is most likely due to the inflammation the virus triggers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"33\">Prevention is key. Keep track of how much Covid is circulating where you are, when new variants emerge, and when the numbers climb, mask up indoors or in crowds. Also keep up with your vaccinations.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"34\">You love to eat fish\u2014and generally have a healthy diet.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"35\">If your favorite protein sources are bacon and sausage, your semen might be paying the price.\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4056648\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4056648\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Research\" data-node-id=\"35.1\"><u data-node-id=\"35.1.0\">Research<\/u><\/a>\u00a0has shown that men who eat the most processed meat have significantly lower counts of normal-shaped sperm compared to those who consume the lowest amounts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"36\">Fish, on the other hand, could have a protective effect. Guys who ate the most fish\u2014especially salmon and tuna\u2014had a 65 percent greater sperm concentration than those who ate the least.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"37\">Credit fish\u2019s omega-3s, since long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids play a role in sperm production, the researchers say. So, if you\u2019re looking to strengthen your swimmers, sub out your pepperoni pizza topping for\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/nutrition\/a43250547\/anchovies-health-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/nutrition\/a43250547\/anchovies-health-benefits\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"anchovies\" data-node-id=\"37.1\"><u data-node-id=\"37.1.0\">anchovies<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"38\">An overall healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains can also positively impact your sperm. Dr. Ahmad says the Mediterranean diet is one of the best for fertility and health in general.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"39\">You skip the briefs.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"40\">A<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/humrep\/article\/33\/9\/1749\/5066758\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/humrep\/article\/33\/9\/1749\/5066758\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\" 2018 study\" data-node-id=\"40.1\"><u data-node-id=\"40.1.0\">\u00a02018 study<\/u><\/a>\u00a0found that men who wore boxer shorts instead of tight-fitting underwear had 25 percent higher sperm concentrations and 17 percent higher sperm counts than those who wore briefs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"41\">Loose-fitting underwear may lower the temperature of your scrotum, where the testicles are located, and improve semen quality, the study suggests. There\u2019s also evidence that elevated testicular temperatures may hinder sperm production, he says. So if you want to be on the safe side, let your junk breathe.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"42\">Your job is physical.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"43\">A 2023\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/humrep\/article\/38\/4\/529\/7034534?guestAccessKey=87e840cd-75fb-4975-8010-b2705f827fbb&amp;login=false&amp;utm_source=authortollfreelink&amp;utm_campaign=humrep&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/humrep\/article\/38\/4\/529\/7034534?guestAccessKey=87e840cd-75fb-4975-8010-b2705f827fbb&amp;login=false&amp;utm_source=authortollfreelink&amp;utm_campaign=humrep&amp;utm_medium=email\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-node-id=\"43.1\"><u data-node-id=\"43.1.0\">study<\/u><\/a>\u00a0found that guys who do heavy lifting at work (literal heavy lifting, like moving weighty objects) had 46 percent higher sperm concentration and 44 percent higher total sperm count than men who have more sedentary jobs.<\/p>\n<section id=\"article-ad-breaker-leaderboard-2-wrapper\" class=\"breaker-ad css-losvwb e1spmc111\" data-type=\"breaker-ad\" data-journey-unblur=\"true\">\n<div class=\"gpt-breaker-container breaker-ad clearfix css-172ho3e e1spmc110\" data-journey-unblur=\"true\">\n<div id=\"article-ad-breaker-leaderboard-2\" class=\"ad-container css-1l23eio ewg5wdb1\" data-slot-type=\"breaker\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"44\">If you don\u2019t happen to work on a construction site or pack moving vans, add weights to your workout, increasing the pounds you lift gradually to garner some of the same benefits.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"45\">Your voice isn&#8217;t super deep.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"46\">Researchers found that while women rated low-pitched voices as more masculine and attractive, husky-voiced men had lower concentrations of sperm in their ejaculate, according to a\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0029271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0029271\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-node-id=\"46.1\"><u data-node-id=\"46.1.0\">study<\/u><\/a>\u00a0published in\u00a0<em data-node-id=\"46.3\">PLOS One<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"47\">Testosterone levels may be one possible explanation for this, according to the study. Testosterone is associated with more masculine facial features and lower voices, but too much of it might actually suppress sperm production.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"48\">You avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol or caffeine.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"49\">Taking drugs, smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and a hefty caffeine intake can all affect sperm negatively, Dr. Ahmad says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"50\">Minimizing or cutting out these habits could improve sperm quality, she adds. Millions of new sperm are being produced each day, and it takes about three months for a sperm to reach full maturity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"51\">\u201cTherefore, if someone was a heavy smoker and had a poor semen analysis and then quit and rechecked his sperm in four months, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see an improvement,\u201d Dr. Ahmad says.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"body-h3 css-7cyxa emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"52\">You try to avoid single-use plastics.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"53\">You\u2019ve probably been hearing a lot about microplastics. A 2024\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/toxsci\/advance-article-abstract\/doi\/10.1093\/toxsci\/kfae060\/7673133?redirectedFrom=fulltext&amp;login=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/toxsci\/advance-article-abstract\/doi\/10.1093\/toxsci\/kfae060\/7673133?redirectedFrom=fulltext&amp;login=false\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-node-id=\"53.1\"><u data-node-id=\"53.1.0\">study<\/u><\/a>\u00a0published in\u00a0<em data-node-id=\"53.3\">Toxicological Sciences<\/em>\u00a0found significant traces of 12 kinds of microplastics in human and canine testes. Experts believe this could be connected to declining sperm counts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"54\">Another\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4014766\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4014766\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-node-id=\"54.1\"><u data-node-id=\"54.1.0\">study<\/u><\/a>\u00a0found that men who had the highest levels of BPA (or, bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastics) in their urine had a significantly lower percentage of motile sperm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"55\">Scientists aren\u2019t exactly sure what\u2019s behind the semen squeeze, but they think BPA might affect the estrogen and androgen activity in the epididymis in the testicles. And this could hinder the normal development of sperm.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"when-to-get-your-sperm-checked-out\" class=\"body-h2 css-1ju5ws3 emevuu60\" data-node-id=\"56\">When to Get Your Sperm Checked Out<\/h2>\n<p class=\"body-text css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"57\"><strong data-node-id=\"57.0\">IT\u2019S ALWAYS A\u00a0<\/strong>good time to educate yourself about your fertility, Dr. Ahmad says. So, any time you\u2019re worried about the health of your sperm, ask your doctor about getting a semen analysis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"58\">It might also good idea to get checked if you\u2019re dealing with a chronic medical condition, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes, and want to have children one day, she adds. These conditions can affect your sperm health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\" data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"59\">Doctors can recommend the best course of action if an abnormality is found, such as further testing or lifestyle modifications, Dr. Ahmad says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Toshiro Shimada\/\/Getty Images 8\u00a0min read UNTIL YOU&#8217;RE READY\u00a0to have a child, you might not think much about the\u00a0health of your sperm. That was true for\u00a0Colton Underwood, former star of &#8220;The &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=747"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":749,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/747\/revisions\/749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}