In the surgery, I would offer the following advice to men to maximise the chance of conception:

Improve Your Sperm Quality

1. Manage stress
Stress can have an effect on fertility and many of the patients I see in the surgery are running at a baseline stress level, which they consider acceptable. Some patients say "Yes, but who isn't stressed?", but I always advise relaxation techniques. You would be surprised how something as simple as yoga or meditation can influence your health for the better.

2. Quit smoking
Smoking may reduce fertility, and there are many other health benefits from quitting.

Interestingly, I find that women are highly motivated to stop when they are planning a pregnancy but the men don't seem to. This may be because they aren't aware that smoking can have a direct effect on the man's fertility.

Do seek advice about how to stop smoking correctly. Far too many patients buy some Nicotine gum, try it for a week or two and stop; to be successful most people need a course of nicotine replacement appropriate for their level of smoking for at least three months.

Good news – it's currently available on prescription!

3. Reduce your alcohol intake
Too much alcohol may decrease fertility, so ease off on the booze if you want to maximise your chances.

If you think you drink too much (more than 28 units per week) and can't stop, then seek help from your GP now. You may be referred to a team of counsellors, therapists, doctors who all specialise in managing the alcohol problem in partnership.

4. Zinc
There are some studies that suggest that zinc supplements could improve sperm quality, as zinc is essential in the formation and maturation of sperm cells.

5. Tight Pants
Sperm quality is best at 34°C, a little cooler than core body temperature. Sperm cannot survive at body temperature, which is why testicles hang on the outside! So wear loose fitting underwear to avoid your testicles getting too warm.

Erectile dysfunction

Apart from sperm quality, some men suffer with erectile dysfunction, defined as an ongoing inability to achieve or to maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. This happens if the flow of blood to the penis is reduced, and can be caused by certain medications, diseases such as diabetes, or injury. In any case, the chance of erectile dysfunction increases with age.

The bad news - many men don't come to the surgery to discuss this problem.

The good news - for most of these men treatments work. They range from medications (like Viagra) to psychotherapy and even devices like implants. Your GP should be well placed to discuss what would be best suited to you.

Abstaining

Your sperm numbers will be greater in an ejaculate if you abstain for 2-3 days. This can be synchronised with your partner's most fertile time to maximise your chance of a pregnancy.

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Content last updated: 24/08/2005

About our doctor

As a GP, Dr Natheera Indrasenan realised she was seeing more and more patients with panic attacks, phobias, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression which could have been prevented if they were taught preventative skills. As a result she became passionate about teaching people preventative strategies using Neurolinguistic programming and Coaching skills to manage stress and to be more motivated and confident in their lives.

Dr Indrasenan now trains doctors in using these techniques with their patients, for themselves (doctors often have their own stresses to cope with!) and also members of the general public.

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