The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are manifold, and it helps that Austin consistently ranks as one of the best for active lifestyles. These benefits may extend to fertility, as overall data shows that exercise can have positive effects on semen parameters.
That being said, some exercises may provide more benefit than others. In identifying the ideal type and duration of exercise, data are somewhat mixed. found that weightlifting and outdoor activities had the largest benefit to semen parameters. A report presented by CBS News expanded on these results by noting that weightlifting has been linked with higher testosterone levels, which may be in part responsible for the increase in sperm counts among men who participated in this activity.
On the other hand, a study published in February 2017 in Reproduction found that men who exercised with jogging or walking 25 to 30 minutes three to four days each week achieved the most significant improvements in motility and sperm concentrations when compared with men who performed no exercise.
It is also important to note that too much exercise may have negative effects on fertility, which is known as “overtreatment syndrome.” A 2009 study compared men undertaking a moderate exercise routine to those training with a high intensity routine and found more significant decreases in sperm counts in the high intensity group. It is important to note that semen parameters recovered after a recovery phase. Most likely, this degree of exercise only applies to select individuals, such as marathon runners or tri-athletes.
These research studies and new sperm facts may offer new hope for men struggling with issues of infertility. By incorporating physical activity and weightlifting into their lifestyle, some men may achieve a higher chance of conceiving a healthy child with their partners.
Austin male fertility specialist Dr. Parviz Kavoussi suggests that men who aspire to become dads incorporate physical activities into their daily routines. He emphasizes, “Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise can help with improving men’s fertility potential.”
In addition to improving fertility, routine exercise is beneficial to men’s overall health. Dr. Kavoussi adds, “Men who engage in regular exercise tend to have lower body fat levels. Fat cells serve as the site where men convert testosterone into estrogen, so the leaner a man is, the more effectively he can maintain optimal testosterone levels while minimizing estrogen levels.”
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