improving sperm quality and quantity

What Helps With Sperm Count and Quality?

If you’ve been trying to have a baby and it’s just not happening, you might have a low sperm count. But don’t panic. It’s actually one of the most common causes of male infertility.

You’ll have to see your doctor to be sure. But there may be things you can do to boost your count naturally. And they’re actually pretty simple.

What Is Low Sperm?

A “normal” sperm count is at least 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. If you have less than that, you have what doctors consider “low” sperm count, called oligospermia.

When you don’t have enough sperm, there’s less of a chance they’ll reach and fertilize the egg, which can lead to fertility problems.

What Is Quality Sperm?

Even if you have a normal sperm count, they still have to be healthy enough to make the journey from your partner’s vagina to the cervix and uterus to the fallopian tubes. If they’re not, you’ll have a hard time getting them pregnant.

There are three ways your doctor can tell whether your sperm is healthy or “quality.”

Quantity. This measures how many sperm you have in your semen when you ejaculate. Remember, you need at least 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen to have a “normal” sperm count.

Movement. Doctors call this “motility.” It measures how fast or well your sperm move to their final destination -- your partner’s egg. You want at least 50% of your sperm moving.

Structure. Normal sperm have egg-shaped heads and long tails. Sperm use these tails to “swim” to the egg. The more normal-shaped sperm you have, the easier it will be for them to reach your partner’s egg.

Causes of Low Sperm

Any number of things can lead to low sperm count, including previous medical problems, age, and your environment. Your lifestyle factors in, too, so if you smoke or use recreational drugs, they can affect your fertility.

How Can I Help My Sperm?

Fortunately, there could be a number of things you can do to increase the amount of healthy, quality sperm your body makes.

Exercise. We know that moderate exercise can boost your mood. But it turns out that it can boost your sperm count, too. Researchers found that men who exercise at least three times per week for 1 hour showed increases in their sperm count and the number of moving sperm, as well.

Stop stressing. It’s easier than it sounds, but do it, especially if you’re trying to have a baby. In a study of 950 men, researchers found that males who had more than two stressful events before starting treatment for infertility were more likely to have low sperm count and motility.

If you smoke, quit. Men who smoke are more likely to have lower sperm count, density, and motility. They also produce less semen than men who don’t smoke.

Say no to drugs. Certain ones, like cocaine and heroin, can affect your ability to get or keep an erection. Other drugs, like marijuana, can make it hard for you to produce sperm. They can also reduce your sperm’s motility or prevent them from developing normally.

Eat right. Choosing a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables may boost your semen quality. Eating fewer fatty foods and a little less protein could also help.

 

improving sperm quality and quantity

Infertility Treatment Methods (IVF | ICSI | EGG Donation)

 Normal pregnancy depends on various factors and conditions, in case of any disorder in any of them, the chance of fertility is decreased or even may go to zero. Infertility is one of the unwanted life phenomena that have been recently increased. A couple who couldn’t have a baby after a year of having sex without contraception, they are considered as infertile. All things needed couples know about fertility treatment is described in this post.

Infertility and its affecting factors

A couple is considered infertile if they cannot become pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. For women over the age of 35, infertility means not having fertility after 6 months of unprotected sex. Various causes can lead to infertility in couples. In general, these factors can be summarized in female and male factors.

Female-infertility factors include the abnormalities in the female reproductive system or poor egg quality that impairs fertility.

Male-Infertility Cause is one-third of couples’ infertility causes. These types of infertility indicate the presence of dysfunction in sperm production or ejaculation in the male.

Research shows that in a third of cases, a combination of female and male factors cause infertility in couples. About 10% of couples also suffer from unknown causes of infertility.

Different methods of fertility treatment

There are different methods of infertility treatment like IVF, ICSI, IUI, and Egg Donation which can help infertile couples and give them a chance to have a baby. Iran is one of the leading countries in the region and in the world in the field of infertility treatment, therefore many couples choose fertility treatment in Iran for infertility treatment.

Several advanced research institutes and hospitals, provide infertility treatment services like IVF in Iran to both local and international patients. Moreover, other fertility services such as Gender Selection are offered in these centers as well for peoples who choose fertility treatment in Iran.

In the following, some of the most important methods of infertility treatment are introduced.

 What is IVF?

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is one of the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in which a man’s sperm and the woman’s egg are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. When the egg is fertilized, the primary cell begins to divide and form the embryo. The resulting embryo or embryos is/are then transferred to the woman’s uterus to implant and develop naturally.

How is IVF done?

IVF is a common procedure, used to overcome a range of fertility issues. It is a multi-step process involving ovulation induction, egg retrieval, Collection and preparation of sperm, fertilization, culture, and embryo transfer. The IVF process can be explained in these five steps:

•           Ovulation induction

The greater the number of oocytes prepared during a treatment cycle, the greater the chance of a healthy fetus forming and subsequently the chance of pregnancy. A doctor prescribes ovulation induction drugs to stimulate the growth of several oocytes in a woman’s cycle.

•           Ovum Pick up:

During a minor surgery, the infertile doctor picks up the mature oocytes using a special needle. This is done under conditions of local or general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.

•           Collection and preparation of sperm

In vitro fertilization of the oocyte with sperm requires the collection of semen. If the male is unable to produce semen, TESE or PESA methods are used to collect sperm.

The collected sperms are washed by a specific method and examined for motility and shape. Finally, high-quality sperms are selected to fertilize the oocytes.

•           Fertilization and embryo culture:

After the ovum picks up, the embryologist examines the obtained egg to select mature eggs that are suitable for fertilization.

The mature eggs are placed in a culture medium and the sperm transferred to an incubator for fertilization. In IVF, high-motility sperms move to the eggs and fertilize them. Once this occurs, the fertilized eggs are considered embryos.

In conditions with a low number and low quality of sperm, the specialist uses intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). It is an additional part of an IVF treatment cycle in which a single sperm is injected into each egg to assist fertilization.

•           Embryo Transfer

Finally, the selected embryos are prepared for transfer to the uterus. A specialist physician inserts the embryo into the mother’s uterus during a minor surgery without the need for anesthesia.

What is the difference between ICSI and IVF?

The difference between IVF and ICSI is in how the oocyte is fertilized. In IVF, the oocyte is exposed to sperm in an in -vitro container until the highly motile sperm enters the oocyte and fertilizes it. But in the ICSI technique, a selected sperm is injected directly into the oocyte through a special needle. In this method, high quality and motile sperm are separated and ready for injection in a laboratory using a special method. The ICSI method is mostly used in cases where the quality of male sperm is low.

Egg donation

Infertility is not always cured by prescribing medication or using advanced methods of infertility treatment. In cases where a woman’s ovarian reserves are low or the quality of eggs is low, but the uterus and other reproductive organs are healthy, the only fertility way is to receive an egg donated by a volunteer. For a consult of our doctors and specialists and to use the service of Egg Donation in Iran, you can contact us through HayatMedTour website.

Fertility treatment in Iran

With over 30 years of experience in infertility research and treatment, Iran is one of the world’s pioneers in effective infertility treatment.  There are more than 80 specialized fertility treatment centers in Tehran, Urmia, Yazd, Isfahan, and other cities of Iran. These clinics with the up-date of knowledge and equipment in the world; offer various methods for infertility treatments with the best quality and reasonable prices.

The high quality and affordable cost of fertility treatments in Iran have led many medical tourists to choose this destination for the treatment of their infertility problems.

Infertility Treatment Methods

 

When are IVF and ICSI used?

Problems with ovulation, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), blocked tubes….

Poor sperm motility, low sperm count, abnormal shaped sperm, antisperm antibodies.

Failed 3-4 cycles of IUI

Unexplained infertility

Advanced maternal age to perform PGS

In cases when couples are normal but both carriers of a genetic disease and PGD is required.

How is IVF done?

IVF (in Vitro Fertilization) is a common procedure, used to overcome a range of fertility issues. It is a multi-step process involving ovulation induction, egg retrieval, fertilization, culture, and embryo transfer. The IVF process can be explained in these four steps:

 

Ovulation induction

Fertility medications are prescribed to control the timing of the egg ripening and to increase the chance of collecting multiple eggs during one of the woman’s cycles. These drugs are used to stimulate the growth of several eggs in the ovaries. Normally, only one egg grows per month. However, during the IVF treatment process, several eggs are needed. Because, after the fertilization phase, some eggs will not fertilize or they will not grow naturally. Induction ovulation drugs start from 8 to 14 days before the menstruation and you should see your doctor every two or three days to check the ovulation condition.  Depending on the case, normally the ovulation Induction procedure takes 10 to 20 days.

Ovum Pick up:

After the induction ovulation and development of suitable oocytes for fertility, the eggs should be retrieved for in vitro fertilization. Egg retrieval or egg ‘pick up’ is a hospital day procedure where the eggs are collected from your ovaries. An anesthetist will get you ready for a general anesthetic. Your fertility specialist uses the latest ultrasound technology to guide a needle into each ovary and inserts a very thin needle through the upper vaginal wall and removes fluid, which contains eggs, from the follicles of the ovaries. The average number of eggs collected is 8-15. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.

 

Fertilization and embryo culture:

After the ovum picks up, the embryologist examines the obtained egg to select mature eggs that are suitable for fertilization.

The mature eggs are placed in a culture medium and the sperm transferred to an incubator for fertilization. In IVF, high-motility sperms move to the eggs and fertilize them. Once this occurs, the fertilized eggs are considered embryos.

In condition with the low number and low quality of sperm, the specialist uses intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). It is as an additional part of an IVF treatment cycle which a single sperm is injected into each egg to assist fertilization. If each egg is fertilized, the resulting cell begins to divide and reaches about 10 cells in 3 days. Finally, the embryo is transferred to the uterus within 2 to 5 days after fertilization.

 

 

IVF-fertility-treatment

ICSI-fertility-treatment

 

 

Embryo Transfer

An embryo transfer is the last part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. Around 2 or 3 days before the embryo transfer, the doctor will choose the best eggs to transfer to the uterus. Sometimes, there are “extra” embryos after an IVF cycle, and most people choose to freeze or cryopreserve their extra embryos. Embryo transfer is a simple procedure that does not require any anesthesia. Embryos are loaded in a soft catheter and are placed in the uterine cavity through the cervix. The procedure is usually painless, but some women experience mild cramping.

causes of ivf fertilization

When is IVF recommended?

IVF (in Vitro Fertilization) is a common procedure, used to overcome a range of fertility issues. It is a multi-step process involving ovulation induction, egg retrieval, fertilization, culture, and embryo transfer. Nowadays, IVF can be used to treat infertility with various causes:

 

• Blocked of one or two female uterine tubes.
• Male factor infertility including decreased sperm count or sperm motility, and abnormal shape of sperm
• Severe ovarian dysfunction
• Ovarian failure and reduced female ovarian reserve for some reasons such as premature menopause or cancer, etc.
• unexplained infertility
• Couples with Multi factorial Infertility factors
• Couples with the failed infertility treatments such as IUI

What is IVF? | Hayat MedTour

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) which a man’s sperm and the woman’s egg are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. When the egg is fertilized, the primary cell begins to divide and form the embryo. The resulting embryo or embryos is/are then transferred to the woman’s uterus to implant and develop naturally

IVF treatment in Iran | Hayat MedTour

IVF in IRAN

In Vitro Fertilization also known as IVF which was first performed in 1978, and has become the standard for treating many fertility disorders. The first IVF Iranian baby was born in 1990 in Yazd city and Iran made great progress in line with world knowledge. Today, Iran is one of the most successful countries in the world using IVF.

With over 30 years of experience in infertility research and treatment, Iran is one of the world’s pioneers in effective infertility treatment.  There are more than 80 specialized fertility clinics in Tehran, Urmia, Yazd, Isfahan and other cities of Iran. These clinics with the up-date of knowledge and equipment in the world; offer the various methods for infertility treatments with the best quality.

The high quality and low cost of infertility treatments in Iran have led many medical tourists to choose this destination for the treatment of their infertility problems.

For more information about IVF in Iran, you can contact us.