When you are trying to get pregnant, you start looking for various ways to amplify your chances. And, your well-wishers must be showering you with a plethora of advice. Amidst all that, you would have heard that men produce healthier sperm in winters and early spring. Is it true? Is it just some old wives’ tale or is there a logical explanation to support it? Read on to know more.
Does temperate play a role in the health of the sperm?
Yes, temperature plays a major role when it comes to sperm production. If the temperature is too high, it can cause damage to the sperm, whereas, in a cooler month, it enhances the sperm health. If you find yourself constantly at places with higher temperatures, almost as high as a sauna, it can reduce your sperm count. Also, when a man suffers from high fever, his sperm concentration can decrease by almost 32%. Hence, prolonged exposure to heat can have damaging effects on the sperm health.
Does sperm health improve during winters?
In the year 2013, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology tried to find the answer to this very same question. Several researchers from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev conducted various tests. Over the period of three years, they tested about 6455 semen samples. Before getting into the study, they already knew that in animals, the quality of their semen increases during winters. Therefore, after their intensive research, they found that even in human beings the sperm health does enhance during cooler seasons. By the time they were done, they produced almost 70 million sperm per millilitre of semen, with 68 million at the end of spring. It showed that 5% of winter produced sperm had more speed, which made getting pregnant easier. And in the spring it was 3%.
But, that’s not all. While the results look mighty beneficial, it doesn’t completely prove that temperature alone is the major factor. Hormones, the daylight hours, etc. could also be influencing the sperm health. Also, the next set of researchers found that these results were only true for men with normal sperm production. Therefore, men with abnormal sperm production (WHO or World Health Organization says that anything below 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen is abnormal) might not experience the same thing. Instead, they experience a better motility during fall and produced the highest number of normal sperm during the spring. Hence, men with abnormal sperm should try during spring or fall instead of winters.
What does it mean for couples who are trying to conceive?
You can always try to make use of these tips and trick. However, for a proper guidance, it is important to consult a doctor. For any fertility consultations, you can always visit our Apollo Fertility. Our experts will offer the right advice to help you and guide you in the right direction. Also, having a healthy lifestyle can definitely improve the sperm health.
