{"id":12213,"date":"2024-04-05T00:00:36","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T00:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/?p=12213"},"modified":"2024-04-05T17:08:18","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T17:08:18","slug":"pump-up-your-sperm-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/na\/pump-up-your-sperm-count\/","title":{"rendered":"Pump Up Your Sperm Count"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Exercise doesn\u2019t just give you muscular arms and chiseled abs. It may also boost your sperm count\u2014and therefore your chances of conception if you\u2019re trying to have a baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to a study out of Harvard, men who exercise for seven or more hours a week (an hour a day) had a 48 percent higher concentration of sperm than those who work out less than an hour a week. But that\u2019s not all. Men who spent more than an hour and a half a week exercising outside had a 42 percent higher sperm concentration than those who spent no time outside. And men who spent two or more hours a week pumping iron had a 25 percent increase in sperm count compared to men who didn\u2019t lift weights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers speculate that outdoor activity increases men\u2019s levels of\u00a0vitamin D, the \u201csunshine vitamin,\u201d which other research has shown helps sperm swim better and faster. Also, weightlifting has been shown to increase testosterone levels and improve insulin sensitivity, both factors related to higher sperm concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid This Sperm Count Zapper<\/strong>
Though physical activity boosts sperm count, one exercise in particular can actually have negative effects: cycling. In this study, men who rode a bicycle for more than an hour and a half a week had 34 percent lower sperm concentrations than men who didn\u2019t bike. That might be due to the pressure the bike seat puts on the scrotum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Sperm Count Matters<\/strong>
While men release millions of sperm during an ejaculation, only a handful of them make it past the cervix and travel far enough to reach (and fertilize) an eligible egg.The healthier the sperm and the more robust the sperm count, the more likely a single sperm will survive the marathon-like journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to hitting the gym, take these steps to maximize your sperm count:<\/p>\n\n\n\n