Question: How can I increase sperm count despite being active in sports and joining in long distance runs?
Dr. Dana: In a study which appeared in the International Journal of Sports Medicine in 1994, eleven high mileage runners ( approx 108 km/wk), 9 moderate mileage runners ( approx 54.2 km/wk) and 10 sedentary controls of similar age (28.3 km/yr) were studied to evaluate the effects of volume of endurance training on reproductive function in male runners.
Total motile sperm count and density were lower in the high mileage runners than the sedentary control group. Decreased sperm motility and an increase in immature sperm were observed in the high mileage compared to moderate mileage and sedentary control groups. Sperm penetration of a woman's cervical mucus was also decreased in the high mileage group compared to the sedentary control group.
In another study titled “Prospective study of hormonal and semen profiles in marathon runners.” in 1995, 24 healthy male marathon runners between the ages of 25 to 54 was studied. Semen analyses included an evaluation of count, motility, morphology, and volume. These profiles were correlated with training intensity. The intensity of training was increased significantly in the first 5 months of the study.
The results showed that the semen volume, sperm motility and morphology fell significantly during training, but there was no significant alteration in the sperm count.
So my recommendation is to opt for less intense endurance sports if you seek to have a higher chance of being a father.
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