Male Fertility
Contributing factors to male infertility:
- Stress : Stress lowers adrenal levels and natural corticosteroids (CS). This sets off a chain of events decreasing Vitamin B5 and 6, Vitamin c, Magnesium and Zinc. This Decrease in natural CS leads to an increase of histamine thus a greater incidence of inflammation and heat in the testes.
- Over heating of the testes (work exposure, hot baths/saunas, tight underwear, hot body constitution, varicocele) effects sperm quality.
- Genetic factors such as cystic fibrosis and Klinefelters.
- Obesity
- Nutritional deficiencies and poor diet.
- Environmental toxins: phthalates, hydrocarbons, pesticides.
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc.
- Substance Abuse: Cocaine, Marijuana, etc.
- Smoking
- Radiation Exposure
- Varicocele: A varicose vein in the scrotum. It is a fairly common problem in infertile males and is definitely worth getting checked out by your GP, IVF Specialist or Urologist.
- Estrogen analogues: This means things in a mans diet that are chemically very close in structure to estrogens (female hormones). BPA plastics is one and possibly too much soy in the diet. This includes soy protein fillers in some foods as well as soy milk/powder/tofu etc.
Ways to improve my health
Stress less: take time out to relax and meditate or walk in the park with fresh air.
Eat more healthy and fresh food on a regular basis.
Reduce or stop smoking.
Stop recreational drug use.
Reduce alcohol intake, especially around days trying to conceive.
Wear loose fitting boxer shorts.
Avoid or reduce chemical exposure in the workplace.
Exercise regularly.
Get a good nights sleep.
Drink more water and cut down on the coffee (coffee does not hydrate, it dehydrates as it is a diuretic).
Increase your essential fatty acids (EFA’s): flax oil, fish
Munch on pumpkin seeds: good source of zinc and EFA
What can Traditional Chinese Medicine offer me?
- Increase in volume, quality, motility or morphology of sperm
- Increase in general health & wellbeing
- Non invasive diagnosis
- All natural herbal medicine (drug & side effect free)
- Painless acupuncture (Japanese Style)
What happens in a treatment?
Your first consultation lasts approximately 1 hour. Your current and previous medical history will be taken and a treatment plan devised to suit you and your lifestyle. Your Chinese doctor will provide you with acupuncture, herbal medicine, life style and diet advice to restore balance to your body. This treatment will be directed primarily at increasing sperm count, motility and morphology, and secondary factors such as stress, sleep and digestion to give you the best chance of conceiving a baby.
Do I need to prepare anything first?
It is important that you and your partner be checked out by your GP, fertility clinic or hospital before an initial consultation from your Chinese medicine practitioner. They can provide you with physical assessments and it helps to get at least 2 sperm tests six weeks apart. Any further questions or queries, please feel free to contact us at Melbourne Acupuncture Clinic.
Don't like needles?
Don’t Sweat: We like to work with you, not against you! If you don’t like needles, we offer herbs and nutritional advice.