Important Healthy Sperm Criteria Known

The desire to have offspring can be hampered if male sperm are of poor quality. There are many things that affect healthy sperm, such as the habit of living a healthy lifestyle, stopping smoking, to reducing alcohol consumption. Sperm is contained in male semen. This semen serves as a vehicle for sperm to the female reproductive tract. The semen that is released when a man ejaculates is a white or gray liquid, with a normal amount of about 2 milliliters (ml). In addition to sperm, semen contains mucus produced by male reproductive glands. When mucus is produced quite a lot, then the consistency of sperm can be thinner.

Healthy Sperm Criteria

Healthy sperm is an important factor in determining male fertility. There are three criteria that can determine the quality of healthy sperm, namely:

• Total number

Every 1 ml of semen released by a man contains about 15 million sperm. Too little sperm count can be difficult to cause pregnancy.

• Ability to move

At least 40 percent of the sperm in the semen is able to move and about 25 percent of the number of sperm must have a fast forward movement. Because, to reach the egg, sperm must move swiftly and swim through several parts of the female reproductive organs.

• Sperm shape

At least 30 percent of the total number of sperm must be normal. Normal sperm is characterized by an oval head and a long tail to support forward movement.

Medical Conditions That Affect Sperm

Various medical conditions in men can cause fertility problems, including disorders of healthy sperm. For example, disruption of sperm transport, diseases of the testicles, and problems in the pituitary gland (pituitary) in the brain that affect testosterone and sperm production. Based on a study, sperm disorders can also be triggered by health problems. Unhealthy sperm is associated with several medical conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diseases of the skin and glands. In addition to medical conditions, the age factor also needs attention. According to studies, men under the age of 35 are more fertile than men over that age. As we get older, the quality and number of healthy sperm with the ability to move quickly, tends to decrease.

Improve Sperm Quality

To maintain healthy sperm quality, there are several ways you can do it, including:

• Eat a healthy diet and maintain ideal body weight

Some types of food can increase the quality of sperm, for example a variety of vegetables and fruit. Weight gain is associated with decreased sperm count and movement.

• Prevents sexually transmitted infections

Use a condom during sexual intercourse and avoid the habit of changing partners. Some types of sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause infertility in men.

• Manage stress and exercise regularly

Body conditions that experience excessive stress can decrease sexual function and interfere with the hormones that produce sperm. For that, control stress and do exercise to help reduce stress, while increasing the level of the body's antioxidant enzymes that can protect sperm.

• Quit smoking

Men who smoke are more likely to experience decreased sperm count, while reducing sperm motility.

• Limiting alcohol intake

The effects of alcohol are almost the same as smoking on male sperm. In addition, alcohol can also cause abnormal sperm structure, and interfere with the absorption of zinc minerals which are very important for male fertility.

Maintaining the function of male reproductive organs, is very important, because it affects the condition of healthy sperm. Apply a healthy lifestyle and stay away from risky sexual relationships. You may need help from an andrologist to consult further on male fertility. Likewise, if you feel that you are experiencing abnormal symptoms in the reproductive organs or fertility disorders, to check sperm and the function of the male reproductive organs.