Male infertility webinar 2012

Male Infertility

The causes & solutions

www.naturalreproductivecare.com

Infertility: The facts

• Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after one year of unprotected sex.

• One in six Australian and N.Z. couples suffer infertility.

• Infertility due to a female factor is 40%.

• Infertility due to a male factor is 40%.

• Unexplained infertility accounts for 15-20%.

• In some cases it is the combination of both female and male factors that makes a couple infertile.

• Sperm = 116 days.

• Eggs = approx 100 days.


Low sperm count

• Normal sperm count should be 40-250 million/ml.

• Low sperm count is <20 million/ml.

• Hormone imbalance.

• Varicocele.

• Chromosomal or genetic causes.

• Undescended testes.

• Environmental factors:

• Heat

• Xenoestrogens.

• Heavy metals – diagnosed by a hair tissue mineral analysis.

• Pesticides.

• Radiation.


Poor motility/morphology

• Motility is how fast the sperm swim and if they are swimming in the right direction.

• Morphology is the shape of the sperm – some sperm can have two heads or two tails and sometimes the head is too big or too small.

• Poor morphology may not necessarily lead to infertility but may lead to problems with the embryo (e.g. chromosomal abnormalities).

• Infections. • Inflammation.


Sperm transport problems

• Issues with internal sex organs.

• Impotence.


Varicocele

• Varicose vein in the testes.

• Usually the left testicle.

• Diagnosed by ultrasound (unless it’s obvious).

• Must avoid heat.

• Avoid excessive exercise especially cycling.

• Avoid wearing wetsuits.

• Immerse the testes into icy cold water twice daily to reduce temperature (especially if preconception care plan or conception attempts are during the summer months).

• Surgery is recommended for obvious cases (bag of worms) and for mild cases, herbs are usually sufficient.


Nutrient deficiencies

• Especially vitamins A, D, E and Zinc.

• There are other nutrients and herbs which have been shown to improve all sperm parameters – count, motility and morphology however each person needs to be assessed individually to see what his requirements are.

• NEVER self-medicate – especially when it comes to fat soluble vitamins – they are stored in the liver and become toxic in overdose.


Lifestyle changes to improve fertility

• Follow a preconception care plan for at least 4 months. • Reduce stress. Unfortunately infertility = high stress.

Meditation, yoga, exercise, deep breathing techniques, massage.

• If you are a smoker you need to quit.• Reduce caffeine.• Avoid alcohol.• Regular exercise is important. • Get a water filter at home to reduce toxic exposure.• Reduce exposure to radiation – avoid x-rays in the 4 months

before conception.• Reduce exposure to electromagnetic radiation.


Lifestyle changes to improve fertility

• Avoid xenoestrogens.• Avoid pesticides – wash food with a fruit and veggie wash (you

can purchase these at health stores). • Avoid chemical cleaning products – use cloths designed for

stainless steel and glass which you just need to add water to and use them for wooden furniture as well. In the bathroom, use gloves and spray free cleaning products (e.g. cream cleansers like Jif).

• Use an aluminium free deodorant. • Don’t renovate your house during the preconception period.• Avoid exercising in areas of heavy traffic.• Use a natural skin care range including body washes.


Dietary changes to improve fertility• Only drink filtered water – get a water filter at home.• A cup of hot water with the juice of half a lemon every morning before

breakfast.• Eliminate tea and coffee.• Eliminate or at least cut down on alcohol intake.• Avoid food additives, especially aspartame (951). Get a copy of The

Chemical Maze.• Increase fruit and vegetable intake.• Only eat organic or free range meat and dairy products.• Add lots of garlic to your cooking.• Eat a handful of nuts every day and increase avocado to increase essential

fatty acid intake.• Avoid processed food – i.e. packet food.• Alaskan salmon is supposed to be the least toxic fish – eat 2-3 servings per

week.• If your BMI is more than 25, increase protein, reduce carbohydrates and

increase intake of foods high in “good” fats, i.e. nuts, seeds, flax oil, avocado.


The biggest barrier to conceiving

• Commitment – this requires time, effort and financial investment. If you’re not prepared to commit to these factors, then it won’t work.

• Don’t think that IVF or IUI is a “quick fix”. Often couples go down that track, spend a lot of money, waste a lot of time and end up not conceiving at the end of it.

• Have sex more often!


Fertility package

• Includes an initial consultation and 2 follow up consultations for both partners along with unlimited email contact until you conceive. Skype/email consultations are available.

• This package can be used before IVF, ICSI, GIFT, SUZI or IUI to increase your chance of success.

• The fertility package involves a 4 month preconception care programme – for more information – www.naturalreproductivecare.com.au

• For more information on preconception care visit - http://www.foresight-preconception.org.uk/Default.aspx


http://www.naturalreproductivecare.com.au/

http://www.foresight-preconception.org.uk/Default.aspx

Contact details

• Nikki Warren (nee Chad) – Naturopath & Medical Herbalist

• +61 7 5448 2001/+61 416 357 645

• [email protected]

• www.facebook.com/naturalreproductivecare


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/naturalreproductivecare

Male infertility webinar 2012

Healthcare

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