So my husband and I have always had trouble getting pregnant, but we thought I was the problem. I have endo/adeno and that has been where we pointed our finger however this month we started the tests again and were shocked to find that I don't need to be put on drugs to increase my chances! We were both really happy as those medications take a toll on us both. Now my husband had decent sperm count last time around, but low motility. This time, they say his motility is excellent, but his sperm count is so low that insemination may not work and IVF could be our only option. We immediately asked the Dr. if the vegan life could be a possibility and he nixed the idea at first, but on second thought he said possibly my husband wasn't getting enough of the right kind of proteins. He didn't suggest that we throw out our new lifestyle, and he wants to retest my husband, however he suggested that if his count is still low, maybe we should look into the idea of adding meat to my husbands diet until I am pregnant at least. Has anyone run into this before? And if so, what are the "right" proteins and can we find them without resorting to eating animals.  It just seems to good that my health has improved, and so has his motility. We are not ready to throw out what makes us feel so good in so many ways.

HI.  Have you read the chart on pg. 57 of TKD?  It really speaks volumes:)

I have NEVER heard of eating meat affecting sperm!  Things to keep in mind - when they test your husbands sperm today, it is reflecting the sperms made 1.5 or more months ago - so if on that day he had a fever, had taken certain antibiotics, etc.....it would affect what happens that far down the line - so do not base any choice on ONE test.

  There are many things that have been demonstrated to improve motility, count, morphology etc....the most important is the amino acid L-Carnitine - this is a building block of sperm.  Other very important nutrients include Zinc, Vitamin C, and the B vitamins (a multi).  CoQ10 is another supplement that is very helpful.  In addition, there are Chinese herbs such as He Shu Wu, Western herbs such as Arctic Root, and Auryvedic herbs such as Ashwaganda (the last two should be readily available in a health food store).  If your husband smokes, he needs to stop for now.  Coffee can also affect sperm health, and there was some recent research showing vitamin D deficiency affected sperm. 

 Add all of these things - or as many as you can - in for three months, then retest - If he wants to eat meat for any other reason, fine.  But if he would be eating it to affect his sperm that is ridiculous - I have no idea where the doctor got that idea!

Thank you so much! This is so much more information than I have been able to find anywhere else! Our Dr. did mention taking L-Carnitine, however he also said that it was not "proven" to have an absolute affect. We will be implementing all of these idea's and rereading page 57 of TKL! Thank you so much!

Try to get your husband (and yourself too) to switch the personal care products he uses on his body  to non-toxic products.  Anything you put on your skin goes directly to your bloodstream and most of the products in the U.S. contain harmful toxins, even so-called natural ones!  Infertility is up amongst both men and women, regardless of their age.  Sperm count in men has decreased by 50% since the 1950's. That's a rate of 1% per year which is huge!  Many scientists believe that this is caused by the toxins in all our products.  You should also switch your products if you want to get pregnant, as you will pass these toxins on to your baby through the cord blood.  In 2004 the Red Cross randomly tested newborn babies and they were found to have at the very least 287 toxins in their blood that were passed on to them by their mothers.  You can go to my website to read more on this information at: www.AvaAndersonNonToxic.com/sheilafaherty.  Ava and her family are extremely focused on, and passionate about letting as many people as possible know about the hazards of toxins in our personal care products.  Infertility is only one of many health problems tied to these toxins!  This is a very serious issue that is also my mission in life.  You will find this information very enlightening and shocking, as most people have no idea.  I wish you success in getting pregnant.

Sheila  

Also, sometimes in a particular world perhaps people are not meant to have children at a given time.

I think there are questions and concerns about man resorting particular types of fertilization.

Hello friends,

Male infertilty is a condition where men get unable to achieve a pregenancy in a fertile women. This condition occur because of testicular problem. It can be treated by the help of medical...

Presently there are generally lots of factors why a man might have difficulty having infertility. Luckily for us, one time clinically diagnosed, many of these causes can usually be treated.Erectile Dysfunction Probelm in men can lead to infertility in men

Sperm problems
Several infertility complications are often linked to sperm dysfunction. Within the millions of sperm typically deposited in to the vaginal area, few hundred will get close to the egg and have a chance to fertilize it. Numerous elements are likely involved around figuring out whether or not the sperm will have great results:

Elizabeth -

Have you had any luck getting pregnant?  My husband also has been diagnosed with low motility and the doctors are attributing it to lack of the right kind of amino acids or complete proteins.  Let me know if you have had luck getting pregnant, would love to hear that there is hope.

Thanks,

Jennifer

Hello..

Many couples like you face the same the problem. There can be many medical reasons behind it. Diet can be good but I think you should try to take supplement which help in increasing the sperm count. There are many herbal products available for it.

Why don't you go to doctor..

Steve, do you think I ran these tests at my house? Sperm count? Motility? Do you think I was brewing medications for infertility in my shed out back? Clearly you didn't read the post, as this post, in it's entirety, was in regards to a doctor's feelings about lack of meat in a diet affecting your fertility negatively. Here at thekindlife.com we are a community dedicated to helping one another to grow and maintain a vegan lifestyle. We are not interested in drug reps. Hock your poison elsewhere. 

If you find that no matter what you do, you just aren't getting pregnant, I highly highly encourage you to consider adoption!  Let me say first that I understand the intimate decision to become a parent is one that ultimately you (and your partner) can make for yourselves, and how you go about doing that is totally up to you and I respect whatever decision you make wholeheartedly.  The opportunity to adopt a child is really incredible and life-changing for both the adoptive parents and the adoptive child.  With so many children, both domestically and internationally, in need of loving, supportive homes, it's a great choice to consider (and one that can be made far more affordable if you adopt a child in foster care and claim the credit that may sunset this year).  Especially when the alternative may be to subject your body to what could be very harmful and expensive drugs.  Check out adoptuskids.org to learn more about children seeking permanent families.

And you never know... as many couples I have known that initially had difficulty conceiving, and then chose adoption, later became pregant out of the blue and were blessed with not only their adoptive children, but a biological one.  In the end, they are all the same.  

Best of luck to you Elizabeth!

Gluten can be a big fertility killer... as can dairy (which you're probably not eating) and soy.