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2016-12-06 08:23:43
Doing at least half an hour of exercise three times a week may boost men's
sperm count, say scientists.
Men who took up running and stuck with it had more "healthy swimmers",
according to the research in the journal Reproduction.
The boost was only temporary, and began to wane within a month if the men
stopped their treadmill training.
Experts say it is important to strike the right balance because too much
exercise can harm sperm production.
Studies have shown that participation in competitive sports, like cycling, can
lower sperm quality.
Sperm boosters
Keep your testicles cool - avoid tight underwear and hot baths
Avoid sexually transmitted infections
Stop smoking
Cut down on alcohol
Stay slim
Get some exercise, but not too much!
All of the 261 men enrolled in the recent trial were healthy and did not have
any fertility problems as far as they could tell. They had normal sperm counts
and healthy-looking sperm and led fairly sedentary lives.
The men were allocated to one of four programmes:
no exercise
three sessions a week of high intensity interval training (10 one-minute bursts
of very fast running with a short recovery period between each bout)
three sessions a week of moderate exercise (30 minutes on a treadmill)
three sessions a week of intense exercise (about an hour on a treadmill)
Exercise training appeared to boost sperm quantity and quality, with moderate
exercise coming top.
Men in all three exercise groups lost weight and saw improvements in their
sperm test results compared with the men who did no exercise over the 24-week
trial period.
The researchers say at least part of the benefit may come from shedding excess
weight - all three exercise groups lost some body fat.
Experts already know obesity can lower a man's fertility. A third of the men in
each study group were overweight.
Fertility aid?
What is not clear is whether the boost from exercise translates to better
fertility. That is something the researchers plan to explore in the lab by
checking if training-induced changes affect the fertilising potential of sperm.
Lead researcher Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki said: "Our results show that doing
exercise can be a simple, cheap and effective strategy for improving sperm
quality in sedentary men.
"However, it's important to acknowledge that the reason some men can't have
children isn't just based on their sperm count. Male infertility problems can
be complex and changing lifestyles might not solve these cases easily."
Allan Pacey, professor of andrology at the University of Sheffield and
spokesman for the British Fertility Society, said: "We have a very poor
understanding of how physical exercise affects male fertility and sperm
quality, but it is a question commonly asked by men wishing to improve their
chances of having a child."
He said there probably was a level of exercise that is optimum for male
fertility, but recommended that men check with their GP before embarking on
anything too strenuous.
UK guidelines recommend that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic
activity, such as cycling or fast walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic
activity, such as running, every week.