YOUR HEALTH Wellness Centre

Male infertility

Dr. Shane Cowan - Naturopathic Doctor

Infertility in Canada affects between 11-15% of couples. This can be further broken down to include 20-30% being just a male problem, 30-40% being only female, 20-30% being both partners and a small minority of couples where neither partner has a recognized problem but still have conception problems. This will be a growing market as the environment becomes more toxic and men continue to have children at a later age. Just as for woman, male fertility does decrease as a man passes 35. The number one cause of this decrease in fertility is a decrease in ejaculate quality, primarily semen quality. Thirty-five also happens to be the average age for men to get married in North America and means that most will have a family afterwards and require Lifestyle and Nutraceutical support to achieve conception.

When it comes to male infertility there are numerous possibilities to rule out. Most of these can be done with a good clinical history, including past traumas, illnesses (STDs especially), medications (both previous and current), Steroid and Testosterone use. A Semen Analysis is usually done by a lab where the lab will test for Quality, Consistency, Morphology (physical characteristics) and Motility.

These problems can usually be addressed through lifestyle change and supplementation of nutrients and should be the first line therapy for men as they are both the least costly and invasive of treatment interventions. Some key lifestyle changes are noted below:

Healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, organic is best – no xenoestrogens (a xenoestrogen is an manmade chemical which mimics estrogen and can be found in the environment in ever increasing levels).
Lean meat should be chosen over high fat cuts but organic chicken and wild fish would be a better choice.
Stay away from high fat, deep fried foods.
Stop smoking, drinking, and recreational drugs. Caffeine should also be minimized.
Medications should be monitored and adjusted by a physician if they are known to cause fertility problems.
Stress should be limited and exercise increased.
Boxers should be worn instead of briefs.
Hot tubs and whirl pools avoided, in general one should try to keep the temperature of the testicles close to normal body temperature.

As well, there are a variety of products that your naturopathic doctor may recommend to help address semen and ejaculate quality, including:

Vitamin C – Sperm mobility
Selenium – Sperm Mobility
Zinc – Overall male immune, reproductive health and sperm production
B12 – A deficiency will lead to a decrease in sperm motility

You can also do something about the emotional impact of infertility by visiting a support group. Our support group is a safe and informal environment that encourages discussions about living with infertility issues. You can learn ways to cope with dilemmas and frustrations and share knowledge and insight with others who are having a similar experience.

For more information about our support group, or to book your naturopathic consult, please contact the clinic.