• Anatomy and Physiology of Male Reproduction
• Lifestyle and Dietary Recommendations for the Infertile Male
• Understanding Male Infertility
• The Fertility Evaluation
• Varicocele

Men’s Health and Fertility Lifestyle Information

Patients with infertility can have some control of their reproductive function by living healthy lifestyles. Often some "negative" lifestyle may be contributing to their infertility. Therefore, if patients live healthy lifestyles, it is possible that there will be some improvement in their reproductive function. There may not be conclusive evidence for all these lifestyle recommendations, but rarely will following these guidelines hurt, and often they may help:

1. Males should avoid excessive heat (avoid waterbeds, saunas, hot tubs, etc.).
2. Limit coffee to 1 or 2 cups per day.
3. Do not smoke.
4. Do not use marijuana, cocaine, or other recreational drugs. Marijuana stays in the testes for 2 weeks, so even using it once every two weeks will have a negative effect.
5. Exercise regularly and moderately.
6. Drink no more than 2 ounces of alcohol twice per week. Females should abstain from alcohol if pregnant.
7. Have good nutritional habits, especially a diet rich in fresh fruits, leafy vegetables and fish. Avoid excess of animal fat (red meat, fried food, cheese and whole milk). Diets high in animal fat are associated with a high risk of prostate cancer and heart disease.
8. Be aware of sexual problems and do not hesitate to ask for medical help.
9. Patients should educate themselves about health and reproduction.
10. Seek emotional and/or psychological support; consider meditation to reduce stress.

VITAMINS: It is believed that taking certain vitamins may help improve your fertility. The mechanism of action is believed to be as follows:

The breakdown of oxygen as it passes through the cells in our body results in substances known as free radicals. Infertile men have a higher concentration of free radicals in their semen as compared to fertile men. Free radicals attack and destroy the membrane that surrounds sperm. Anti-oxidants fight against these bad effects. VITAMINS ARE NATURAL ANTI-OXIDANTS!

Dr. Goldstein suggests:

Vitamin C: 500 mg/day
Vitamin E: 200 IUs/day
Selenium: 200 mcgs/day
Multivitamin that contains no more than 20 mg of zinc and no more than 200 IUs of Vitamin E
Folic Acid 800mcg
Co Q10 200mg/day

There is a product currently available that contains all the suggested supplements except CO Q10 200 mg/day. This product, Conception XR for Men, is available at www.conceptionxr.com. It can be used with CO Q10 200 mg/day to fulfill the recommended vitamin regime.

LUBRICANTS: DO NOT USE saliva, KY Jelly, Astroglide, Surgilube or any other over-the-counter lubricants. Natural lubrication is best.

Dr. Goldstein recommends the following lubricants:

1. a small amount of baby oil
2. whole milk
3. egg whites
4. Preseed – this lubricant is available on the internet at www.preseed.com