So, you're trying to have a kid. Maybe it's your first, or maybe you're going full Gaffigan and aiming for number 5. And it's got you thinking about your little swimmers and what you could do to whip them into shape.
While there are plenty of articles offering a range of sperm making hacks, from hours of pelvic yoga to pounding Omega-3 supplements, Dr. Phillip Werthman, MD urologist and director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine, says they're nothing but nonsense. The key to keeping your little soldiers marching at a good clip lies in staying healthy. That said, Werthman has some advice on how you can have as potent sperm as possible. Basically, the equation comes down to common sense + moderation = smooth wriggling sperm.
There's no separation of state and sperm in your body. That is, if you're not taking care of yourself, then it's probably safe to assume your swimmers aren't doing many laps. "A healthy person might have bad sperm for other issues, but if you're in bad health, your sperm's not going to be so great," says Werthman, bluntly. "Why would an unhealthy person have really healthy sperm. How would that make sense?" The good doctor makes a fair point.
Let's get the basics out of the way: You know the stuff your general practitioner cautions you against when you come in for a routine check up? There's a lot of overlap with the conversation you'll have with a sperm doctor. "Smoking is bad," Dr. Werthman says. "Smoking pot is bad. Alcohol is bad. I'm not talking about once in a blue moon. I'm talking about regular heavy consumption." Werthman says other common indulgences that damage your sperm include overconsumption of coffee and extended Jacuzzi use. So use caution. While you're at it, steer clear of licking any radioactive material, too.
That's right. Those pelvic floor exercises you read about? While there's no harm in a bit more flexibility, Werthman says they're a waste of time for sperm problems. Dude Kegels (Dugels?) may help with erections, but they have no effect on sperm. "You can be fertile and have no erections and be rock hard and have no sperm," Werthman said. It's a weird world down there.