Your doctor is the best person to give you medical advice like this. I’m sorry — I wish I could help — but I don’t know if vitamins will help with sperm count, quality, and production.

To tell you the truth, I suspect a doctor couldn’t tell you for sure, either! A lot of getting pregnant is mysterious and unpredictable. If it was as easy as vitamins and supplements and lifestyle, there wouldn’t be so many of us couples coping with infertility. Our bodies are so different, so unpredictable.

I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful! I encourage you to see a fertility doctor, or a naturopathic doctor who specializes in pregnancy.

Blessings,
Laurie

My questions are–

1. Will lifestyle changes and vitamins help in this case of DNA fragmentation as well, since he is taking Paxil every day?

2. If so, can you recommend any specific vitamin to increase even more? He takes a multi, l-carnitine, C, zinc, COQ10. (He used to take E but he heard it may be toxic if taken in excess??) I’ve read about taking milk thistle to help the body increase it’s level of glutothione… might this supplement help?

Thank you.

Acupuncture has been proven time and time again to improve sperm in infertile men. Here is one study published in the prestigious medical journal Fertility and Sterility:
A study published in July 2005 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture improved sperm quality in infertile men’s semen.

In the study, 28 men received acupuncture in addition to traditional infertility treatments, while another 12 men received only the traditional treatments. All of the men were diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

Acupuncture was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm of men who received it, although it had no effect on sperm immaturity or premature death.

Previous studies have shown a link between acupuncture and improved sperm production and motility.

To find an acupuncturist near you go to Acufinder on the web. Go to our website for a good comparison of what an expert in this field looks like.

Here are some things you can do to improve ejaculate volume, viscosity, appearance, pH balance, sperm count, motility and morphology:

Herbal and Vitamin phone consult with Anthony A. Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. Acupuncturist and Herbalist with an expertise in men’s health, fertility and sports injury. Herbal medicine is so effective in treating sperm quality, quantity and motility than an infertile man can become fertile. Expect a minimum of 3 months to improve sperm and re-analyze sperm after 6 months of herbal medicine treatment to ensure proper herbal prescription is working effectively.

Eliminate alcohol as it decreases one’s ability to produce testosterone.

Eliminate smoking, recreational drugs (including marijuana), and stress.

Eliminate ejaculation other than fertile times having intercourse every other day for one week during fertile signs and ovulation.

Avoid vigorous exercise, saunas, hot tub, hot baths, tight underwear and bicycle riding all of which lead to increased temperature in the testicles and potentially reduce sperm count.

Take 40-80 mg of Zinc (never do more than 100 mg daily) in the form of supplements and food. An excellent source of Zinc can be purchased on our website. It’s called Zinc A.G. take two daily for improved immunity and prostate function.

Vitamin E take 200-400 iu daily helping to balance hormone production. Wellness Essentials for Men has 50 iu and it’s easy to supplement in your diet by eating: almonds, cold pressed vegetable oils, dark leafy greens, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, eggs, brown rice, kelp, milk, oatmeal, wheat, wheat germ, sweet potatoes and flax seeds.

Foods to eat to increase virility and sperm quality and production: scallions, lamb, shrimp, black beans, kidney beans, yams, clams and oysters.

Avoid the herbs: Echinacea, ginkgo biloba and St.John’s Wort

Avoid drugs (with a doctor’s supervision): Zantac (Ranitidine) and Tagamet (Cimetidine)

There are many natural options for improving quality, quantity and motility of sperm. These procedures are very effective, safe and non-invasive. The best side-effects from the treatment are often improved sleep, higher sex-drive, greater virility, lower stress and less depression.

Written by: Kristen N. Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M., Dip. Ac., an Acupuncturist and Herbalist who practices with her husband treating women and men for infertility. Both experts are available for phone consults for those who don’t live in Eagle, Idaho.

In terms of size of each sperm, normal sperm has a very uniform size. If the sperm is outside of this norm, either too small or too big, these are abnormal sperm, and yes, in this case fertility will be affected.

If sperm amount is the question, there is a minimum amount of sperm per ml that is required for natural fertilization. In general, for natural intercourse cycles, a minimum of 20 million sperm/ml is required. For IUI (intrauterine insemination), a minimum of 10 million sperm/ml is required. For IVF, you only need as many sperm as you have eggs (1-30).

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program