Improving Sperm Quality

Seattle Sperm Bank has a reputation for having high-quality donor samples. This all starts with the great donors in our program. Here is how our donors make sure their donations provide the best treatment options for people who need donor sperm to complete their family goals.

What You Put Into Your Body Matters

Eating plenty of fresh foods will help both reproductive and overall health. Foods with folate, vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin D can especially improve your overall sperm quality. If you have trouble getting all the vitamins and minerals into your diet, you can always add a nutritional supplement.

Exercising And Moving Your Body

Movement helps improve how your body functions including your circulatory system, which is crucial for the reproductive system.

Here are some things you can try:

• Take a morning or night walk- or both
• Practice yoga and meditation
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator
• Try a new activity like hiking, kayaking or golfing

Incorporating more movement throughout the day will have an overall positive impact.

Recovery And Hydration

For sperm donors, recovery includes being abstinent. Donors must be abstinent for at least 48 hours between donations to increase the number of sperm cells for each donation to an amount that is useable for treatment.

Getting plenty of sleep along with drinking water will help improve semen quality too.  

Reducing And Avoiding Activities That Have Adverse Effects On Reproductive Health

You will want to completely avoid nicotine products and hot tubs. Both can have a huge impact on sperm quality, often completely killing sperm cells.

Likewise, alcohol can have detrimental effects on sperm cells at heavy use. You do not have to give up social drinking if you drink in moderation. More research is needed in the field of cannabis use and sperm quality, but the same as alcohol, moderation is likely the best practice.

When making any lifestyle changes to improve your sperm quality, keep in mind, it takes about 3 months to form new sperm cells from start to finish.

Becoming a sperm donor is a worthwhile endeavor and the need for sperm donors is at an all-time high. Benefits to becoming a sperm donor include compensation at $100 for each donation (up to 3 times per week), personal health tracking with routine STI testing, physicals, and genetic carrier screening, and being able to have a positive impact on someone who needed you.

If you think you have what it takes to become a sperm donor you can get started today with an online application. Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions to our Donor Coordinator at 206-588-1484 or email donor@seattlespermbank.com.