It takes two to tango! Both men and women are equally responsible for the healthy fertilization and delivery of the baby. Female fertility is the ability to conceive and deliver the baby, whereas, male fertility is the ability to impregnate a woman by providing healthy, good-quality sperm.
Unlike the ancient era, wherein women were solely responsible for not bearing a child, advancement in science has identified male fertility as equally responsible for failed conception. One of the most common myths attached to male infertility is frequent sex! It is generally said that frequent sex may cause fatigue and decreased sperm production. Let’s attempt to uncover the facts on whether frequent sex can cause male infertility.
In This Article
- Understanding The Male Reproductive System
- Negative Effects Of Infrequent Sex On Sperms
- Does Frequent Ejaculation Affect Sperms?
- How Often Should We Have Sex To Conceive?
- Tips For Boosting Male Fertility For Conception
Understanding The Male Reproductive System
The scrotum is a pouch-like organ beneath the penis containing testicles. The testicles produce male hormone testosterone and sperms. On ejaculation, the sperms are released from the urethra.
During sex, the penis lies near the cervix, from where the sperms travel further inside and reach the ovum. The sperms produced in the testicles are directed out from the testes to the epididymis for maturation. Here the sperms are stored for about 15-25 days, if not released.
Negative Effects Of Infrequent Sex On Sperms
Research indicates that the storage of sperms in the epididymis for prolonged periods causes changes in their DNA. This is caused by the free radicals in the body.
The sperms are very sensitive to heat and the greater the duration they spend in the body, the higher the threat from heat exposure. The motility of the sperms is affected by heat and radiation. These factors lead to the abnormal shape of sperms, low sperm count and mobility contributing to male infertility.
Does Frequent Ejaculation Affect Sperms?
It appears logical that frequent ejaculation will lead to lowered sperm count. This is because the body needs time to prepare the optimum quantity of sperms. It may take anywhere between 24-36 hours. But the catch is, the fresher the sperms, the more the virility.
They are more liveable and motile (mobile). The sperms already stored in the body may not contain many live sperms, or have less motility. The researchers indicate that infrequent ejaculation can thus not guarantee optimum male fertility. The period of one week is the maximum a man can go without ejaculation.
The number of sperm increases with delay in ejaculation, but the accumulated sperms are in a hazard of being morphed genetically and quality-wise. The greater the amount sperms spend in the testicles, the greater the risk of being exposed to heat which may kill them.
How Often Should We Have Sex To Conceive?
It must be noted that sperms thrive in the womb for up to three days. So having sex every 2-3 days can ensure that the sperms are always available for the egg released after ovulation. This increases the chances of conception. Experts suggest having sex, daily for a week before the ovulation of their partners for best results.
Now timing sex with your partner’s ovulation can be stressful and quite mechanical, it is best t keep the romance alive by having sex every 2-3 days. The famous research conducted in Australia led by Dr David Greening found that sex daily for seven days resulted in more active and motile sperms, though there was a 12% decrease in the genetic damage.
This, however- led to a drop of sperm concentration but still continued to remain in the healthy range. Based on these results, the researchers found that having sex, daily for a fortnight could lower the sperm count rather too much. Therefore, you need to take a break here!
Tips For Boosting Male Fertility For Conception
Here is a bit of advice to keep your guy’s fertility in check and make the most of those passionate youthful years:
- Engage In Morning Sex: Your guy’s hormones are at their peak during the morning. Studies indicate higher sperm concentration during the morning. Of course, a good night’s sleep and no anxiety would render him and his sperms healthy!
- Get rid of that fat: Obesity is positively linked to infertility
- Boost folic acid intake: It’s true not only for women but for men too. Folic acid or Vitamin B12 is necessary for preventing genetic abnormalities in the sperm
- Avoid soy intake: Soy intake has been linked to decreased male fertility. Yes, even a serving of soy products can lower the potency. So keep your guy away from soy products such as, tofu, tempeh, soy milk, soybean chunks, and soy kebabs! There are plenty of other sources to provide protein
- No laptops on laps please: The excessive heat from laptops increases scrotal temperature thereby damaging healthy sperms. Such long-term exposure is known to cause male infertility. Know how laptops affect male fertility here
- Get a mobile phone belt pouch: The low-frequency radiators such as mobile phones and pagers need to be stored away from the reproductive organs as well as the heart. They cause unwanted changes in the functioning
The key is not focusing on performance, it’s rather leading a healthy, stress-free, and happy relationship with your partner. Each body is unique and very frequent sex may not be recommended for men suffering from fertility issues such as low sperm count. Rather than counting numbers, indulge in passionate lovemaking when you both get heated up. So, all in all, frequent sex boosts male fertility.
