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.
To test sperm with ExSeed, a man places a sample on a glass slide provided within the kit, then inserts the slide into a special device and places this underneath his smartphone camera with the app installed, allowing him to see his sample in real-time.
Using pre-programmed algorithms, the ExSeed app processes the video feed and determines sperm quantity and motility – mimicking the process undertaken in fertility labs. The app provides an instant result and also offers personalised recommendations on how to improve sperm quality and overall health.
Dr Koita, Founder and Director of IVF Matters is excited about tech progress in the male fertility sector. “This app offers men a new unique opportunity to test and understand how lifestyle factors can impact their virility. It’s a great first step to empowering men to consider what impact a few small changes can make.”
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.
Users can re-assess the quality of their sperm after a further three months, which is the average life cycle of regeneration of sperm in the testes, to see just how effective the lifestyle changes have been. As the saying goes “you have to see it to believe it!”
ExSeed is now available to order through IVF Matters.
Disclaimer: ExSeed is ideal if you wish to assess the health, quality and motility of your sperm. If your sperm have poor morphology or you are aware of having physiological problems in your genitalia or reproductive organs; including your testes or vas deferens, you will still need to seek advice from a fertility specialist for final diagnosis and treatment options.