Frequent sexual activity improves the quality of a man's sperm and may even help couples conceive a baby, according to new research reported by Reuters.
Genetic defects in men's sperm dropped significantly after they embarked on a regimen of daily sex, according to a study of men attending a fertility clinic. The new research counters the long-held advice telling men who hope to inseminate their partner to have sex every two or three days because it would increase the number of sperm they produce.
In fact, men who have a healthy sperm count but poor quality sperm may be able to improve the genetic material in the cells by having sex more often, according to the research done by Dr. David Greening, a fertility doctor at an Australian fertility center. After studying 118 men with higher than average sperm DNA damage, Greening learned that their sperm quality rose substantially when they ejaculated daily for a full week.
"To have fresh sperm, you have to get rid of the old ones," says Dr. Kent Holtorf, an endocrinologist, explaining why daily ejaculation may be beneficial.
Dr. Greening, speaking at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recently said, "I'm convinced that ejaculating more frequently, i.e. daily, improves sperm DNA damage in most men by a decent amount." The longer the sperm stay in the tube leading from the testicles, the more chance they have to be damaged by the free radicals that circulate throughout the body.
Allan Pacey, secretary of the British Fertility Society, added, "If you ejaculate every day then you're preventing the sperm being in the reproductive tract for too long, so it makes sense that they're less exposed to damage and it's fresher."
Putting the Information to Good Use
If you're a couple having trouble getting pregnant, you want to consider the following tips:
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Both the man and the woman should have an infertility workup. "The incidence of male infertility is skyrocketing," says Dr. Holtorf. "Timing of intercourse is an important factor. More frequently sex during ovulation may be very important."
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Men should avoid excess alcohol and smoking, according to the Mayo Clinic. Consuming too much alcohol and smoking regularly has been found to decrease sperm production.
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Don't lounge in the hot tub with your partner. High temperatures—like what you'd find in a sauna or a hot tub - can reduce a man's fertility temporarily.
