Beyond the Results: What Your Sperm Test Isn't Revealing

There is a big problem affecting fertility and no one’s talking about.

It’s all about the guys.

With so much focus on women the guys get completely forgotten.
I hear it in clinic every day.
"Yes the sperm has been checked, its fine".
But fertility levels are dropping at an alarming rate.

Beyond a sperm test what else do we know?

Something you can't see on a sperm test is impacting your fertility.

There has been a 50% decline in sperm count.
At an average of 1.5% per year.
We have gone so far down the rabbit hole, that most men have forgotten that their health contributes to 50% of a healthy baby.

Why?

Doctors aren't emphasising the importance of men's health to make babies.

It's like this....

• GP's aren't great at interpreting the results.
• No one suggests checking the sperm for 6-12 months.
• Specialists offer IVF as the solution for male infertility.
• The sperm pass rate is low. Too low (Good enough isn't healthy)

Not great when you want a baby now.

Here's the thing.
A sperm test doesn't have a direct link to fertility potential.

I know right?! It's crazy.

A sperm test doesn't tell us everything.
Its just a snapshot in time.
If results aren't optimal the gold standard is to re-test after 6 weeks.

You know what the big problem I have with it all is?
You can't see the DNA on a sperm test.
We are missing a vital part of a sperm story.

We can test for it.
Its called a DNA fragmentation test.
But it's expensive, and specialists won't often do it.
Mainly because their treatment plan doesn't change.
To pick the best looking sperm and do ICSI with IVF.

And even that's not enough.
From my perspective there is a lot we can do to fix fragmented sperm DNA.

When sperm DNA is fragmented we see high levels of:

• infertility
• higher rates of miscarriage
• poor fertilisation and growth of embryos in IVF

Men's health is more than a sperm test.

Male fertility is the number one cause for failed IVF cycles in couples under 35 years old.

I think the reason is poor sperm quality as a result of poor health.
And couples are pushed towards interventions like IVF when it isn’t needed.

How often if your doctor asking your partner about his health?
his diet?
Or his stress?

I'm guessing the answer is not often if at all.

DNA health comes down to lifestyle.

And it can be changed quickly.
It takes 72 days for new sperm to grow and mature.

I'm amazed at how fast I've seen sperm count and quality change with lifestyle changes when men commit to new habits.
Like when you and your partner decide to loose weight.
And he makes smaller changes than you but the weight just falls off of him.
It’s like that with improving sperm.

The problem is we aren't having the conversation.

Men think they are off the hook as soon as they get the tick of approval.
If their doctor isn’t worried, then they aren’t either.

What does this mean?
The mental and emotional load on you gets bigger.
And you start to spiral...."Well if its not him, than I'm the problem?!"

Wrong!
It takes two to tango.
You are in it together.

Men need to be doing more than a sperm test and a prenatal vitamin.
I often see men only take a prenatal vitamin and make no lifestyle changes.
It’s not good enough.

It results in

• failed IVF cycles,
• poor fertilisation,
• more miscarriage….
• unexplained infertility.

You can’t supplement your way around a poor diet or lifestyle.

Change lifestyle for better sperm faster.

Sperm DNA quality will influence how fast you conceive.
Also the health of your baby.

I will always continue to tell men that LIFESTYLE MATTERS!

What you eat.
How you sleep.
It all matters.

I have compiled a resource here of lifestyle changes back by science that specifically improve sperm count, quality and DNA.

But you don’t have to do it alone.

If you are struggling with something specific or would like to hear more about how to improve male fertility I would love to hear from you.

Jaya x