New Smartphone App ExSeed enables Men to Test Sperm Quality at Home

 

Whilst it is widely known that 1 in 6 couples struggle to conceive when trying to start a family, it isn’t as familiar a fact that approximately 40% of men in all infertility cases are unwittingly contributing to this statistic by having poor quality sperm. 

Now, with a new test and smartphone app called ExSeed, men can check the quality and motility of their sperm in the comfort of their own home. 

One of ExSeed's founders, Morten Ulsted, says that before ExSeed, there were few options available for men to assess their fertility at home, whilst women have had access to using home apps like ovulation trackers for quite some time.

 

Breaking the Stigma

“There’s still a stigma around male fertility problems,” said Mr Ulsted. ‘Men are often too embarrassed to seek medical advice or visit a clinic.”

ExSeed is a high-quality medical advice app that can help tackle the stigma of male infertility and create more awareness about sperm health among the male TTC community. By using the same software found in fertility clinics, the app analyses the most common causes of male infertility; low sperm count and low motility. Which translates as poor quality swimmers!

By assessing these elements, the app also provides lifestyle advice devised by fertility experts, which if followed, aims to help significantly improve the health of the sperm, leading to an increased chance of natural conception.

 

 

Improve the quality of your sperm in three short months

“What you put in is what you get out! It’s as simple as that.”

Whilst this is a phrase coined of life in general, it also applies to your body and health. Not least when you are trying to conceive. An unhealthy lifestyle can have a fundamental impact on the health and quality of your sperm. 

Sperm has a regenerative life-cycle of approximately 3 months, which means that by implementing these recommended lifestyle changes, you will see the benefit of improved sperm health and quality. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it!

You are what you eat – benefits of good nutrition and antioxidants

Sperm DNA damage is caused by oxidative stress, where your body produces free radicals that can damage your DNA strands. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help to reduce damage as they limit the production of these free radicals. You may also want to look into taking nutritional supplements as part of your new healthy regime. If you need specific nutritional advice,  IVF Matters also offers patients the opportunity to speak to a registered Nutritional Therapist who supports male clients with improving sperm health through improvements to their diet.

Stopping smoking

We all know that smoking is bad, but did you know it also has a detrimental effect on your fertility. The chemicals in cigarettes produce the aforementioned free radicals which lead to sperm DNA damage. Research has indicated that smoking a packet or more of cigarettes daily, will fundamentally reduce sperm count and quality. Quitting today will significantly improve your chances of conceiving, and not only that – you’ll feel better too!

Reduce your alcohol intake

Alcohol can affect fertility by altering sperm count, size, shape and motility. In men, heavy drinking affects fertility by lowering testosterone levels, follicle stimulating hormones and luteinizing hormones. It also raises estrogen levels, which reduce sperm production. Try limiting your intake and stick to the UK guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol a week. 

Get a good night's sleep

Men who sleep for a good 8 hours a night are more likely to have high-quality sperm. Recent research from Aarhus University in Denmark has shown that men who hit the pillow before 10.30pm have four times better quality sperm than those who stay up late checking emails or watching Netflix. Getting the optimal amount of sleep every evening protects the production of male hormones and combats stress, which is also acknowledged to have an adverse effect on the health of your swimmers.