How to Increase Sperm Count When You Are Over 40

Getting pregnant in your 40s isn't always easy as the fertility of both partners begins to decrease. Men in their 40s have several options when it comes to increasing their sperm count. None of these strategies will prove very effective if the low sperm count is the result of a medical condition. However, for an otherwise healthy man with a low sperm count, the steps in this article can help combat the situation.

Instructions

• 1

  Evaluate your lifestyle. Your low sperm count may be the result of an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise or too much partying, or some combination thereof. Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and lean meats, while decreasing your intake of fast and highly processed food. Cut back on, or cut out entirely, the booze, cigarettes and other recreational substances. It's also important that you exercise regularly and take off excess weight. This will signal to your body that you're healthy enough to reproduce.

• 2

  Cut back on sex. Many couples struggling to get pregnant in their 40s believe that the more sex they have, the better their chances for conceiving. This isn't necessarily the case for couples if the man has a low sperm count. More sex distributes the sperm more thinly during each encounter. Waiting a few days between encounters (without masturbating) allows the man's sperm to build up, thus making it more potent when the couple have sex.

• 3

  Add vitamins or vitamin-rich food to your diet. Zinc is important for producing strong sperm. Vitamins C and E help keep sperm viable and preserve its potency.

• 4

  Stay cool, at least make sure your testicles do. This means not only avoiding hot showers and baths, but also allowing your testicles to breathe. Avoid tight undergarments and setting hot items on your lap, such as a plate or a laptop. Try not to remain seated for too long either, get up and walk around so your testicles get a chance to air out. Overheating decreases sperm count.

• 5

  Limit the amount of coffee or other caffeinated drinks you consume. Small amounts of caffeine haven't been shown to decrease sperm count, but if you drink more than a cup or two a day you may be decreasing your sperm count without even realizing it.