The male fertility crisis: five easy ways to boost your sperm count

Modern life really is rubbish – if you're a sperm, that is.

According to a major new study, sperm counts have fallen by almost 60 per cent since the 1970s – and the finger of blame is being pointed at our 21st century lives. High stress levels, plus the increasing existence of chemicals and pesticides in everyday life, are apparently harming our fertility..

The new research tracked more than 40,000 men and concluded that sperm counts in Western countries have fallen by 59 per cent since 1973, with a 52 per cent fall in sperm concentration. That decline far outpaces the fall in sperm counts elsewhere in the world, which researchers said “strongly suggests” that industrial chemicals are among the main causes.

Previous studies have theorised that lifestyle also has a significant roll to play in sperm counts, with obesity and smoking both said to be linked. 

Here, we round up five of the most intriguing recommedations on how to boost your sperm count from recent years. (Remember: consult your doctor if you are worried about your sperm.) 

1. Eat red food

A report published by Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic, following analysis of 12 studies conducted by different groups around the world, found that consumption of lycopene improved the quality, mobility and volume of sperm dramatically, increasing sperm count by up to 70 per cent.

Lycopene is an essential nutrient commonly found in red fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, strawberries, cherries and peppers.

2. Lay off the laptop

A 2011 study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility suggested there could be a link between using a laptop with a Wi-Fi connection and a reduction in sperm quality.

Sperm samples from 29 men were stored normally and under a laptop connected to WiFi. The sperm stored under the laptop became more sluggish and showed signs of DNA damage.

3. Get off (or on) your bike

Cycling has myriad health benefits, but perhaps not when it comes to your sperm. A 2009 Spanish study by the Andalusian Center of Sports Medicine and the University of Las Palmas found that a prolonged spell on your bike can severely affect the shape and quality of your spermatozoids.

After monitoring 15 Spanish triathletes with an average age of 33 the study found that “those that systematically cycled 300 kilometers a week– had less than 4pc, which is considered a fertility problem”.

However, it's important to note that this point isn't nailed on. Speaking to The Telegraph in 2015, fertility specialist Paul Serhal said that the benefits of cycling may outweigh the negatives: "In my experience, cyclists are prone to adhere to a lifestyle that’s much healthier for their sperm count,”

A 2014 study of 5,000 male British cyclists by University College London found no association between cycling and infertility.

4. Ditch the bath

The optimum temperature for sperm production is 34.5 degrees celsius, which is slightly below body temperature. A three-year University of California study in 2007 found that five out of 11 men who stopped taking hot baths experienced a sperm count rise of almost 500 per cent.

5. Drink coffee – but not too much

In 2003, researchers from Sao Paolo University in Brazil studied 750 men and concluded that drinking coffee can improve the swimming speed of human sperm, although whether this means pregnancy rates are higher among coffee drinkers is unclear.

Other studies have suggested that drinking just three cups of coffee a day can cause genetic mutations in sperm, making it harder for them to successfully fertilise an egg.