Does anyone have any hot tips for improving DH's swimmers?

[Lettie70]

I'm really trying to get DH to clean up his act as we have been trying for 10 months. Poor man, he gave up smoking in May last year but a SA showed 7% morphology which isn't disastrous but not great. His motility was 49% - again it's quite below average but not disastrous.

I'm not being military about it (honestly) but I have been good with my diet so I think it's time he does. I can't help but feel that if his lifestyle improves then our chances will increase.

But does anyone have any good tips for vitamins he can take (he's on wellman but not sure these really help)? Any success stories in improving morphology and motility?? Any hints would be gratefully received!!

I've been trying to increase the zinc in our diet (more prawns and chicken) as well as getting him to take a multivit and folic acid. Have also been making him put cold water on his testicles when he has a shower. Poor man. I don't know if it's made a difference but TMI he does seem to be 'doing more'. Sorry for that image!

My dh takes 1000mg vitamin c a day to prevent 'clumping' (ttc language is lovely isn't it?!) and wellman conception, I've also got both of us eating brazil nuts for the selenium. I don't know if it works but he had a sperm count before taking anything about 6 months into ttc and his count was great but normal forms abd motility were a bit low and there was moderate clumping, he started on the vits and I got pg 2 months later, unfortunately had a mc but we are going to get back on the horse soon!

Just to reassure you Lettie 7% morphology is well within the newly updated WHO guidelines of 4% and above being 'normal' and motility is now set as 40% and above 'normal' so he's doing great!

My DH is on Wellman vits, zinc, vitamin C and we've just generally improved diet and cut back on alcohol. He does like his baths though and it's a bit of a sticking point...he's got a re-test next month so will see then whether it's improved anything.

Thanks ladies. I think zinc and vitamin C will go on the shopping list!
I keep meaning to make him do the whole cold water thing in the shower.
PinkCustard - thanks for the reassuring words. I know what you mean about the baths, DH kicked up a fuss when I mentioned how bad the hot baths were to his swimmers.

Brazil nuts...and lots of them x

Zinc - also vit C and E and folic acid.

Give up alcohol. Or cut right down.

Exercise

No baths

DH was prescribed tamoxifen by his consultant.

All these things made a massive difference and DHs count got back to normal within 1 year (it was initially worse hen our DHs)

worse than your DHs - sorry!

What poodlerockin said. When we started fertility treatment we were told DH's count and motility were so poor the chances of conceiving other than through IVF were virtually non existent. After three months of wellman, no alcohol, no baths gym twice a week, and loose boxers instead of calvins I was pregnant.

we struggled ttc #2 and my dh took proxeed and he sheepishly admitted it improved the volume and texture of his sperm! its a little pricey but worth it, he took it for a couple of months!

fertilaid and pycnogenal

maca is worth a go too. even if it tastes rank

my dp's results were alot worse than yours (less than 1% normal forms). 2nd test a few months later showed 3% normal forms. (improved count and motility aswell but can't remember exact figures)

we were also told only chance of having a baby was ivf with icsi. dd2 was born 7 weeks ago, with no ivf.

Hi there, my husband has a good count, (I think!) - 38 million count, 121 million total sperm, but there was only 23% with progressive motility, success stories of falling pregnant naturally? xx

Our GP was most emphatic about NO TIGHT PANTS!! DP never wears pants, or boxers, anyway . And she advised him to wear loose trousers / jogging bottoms as much as possible...

Also said to avoid baths & to splash cold water on his 'special area' once or twice a day.

So basically keeping them cool and swinging free was the main advice we were given!