We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Sperm count refers to the average number of sperm present in one sample of semen. Fertility doctors assess sperm count during routine semen analyses and consider it to be an important factor for fertility. Based on the most recent World Health Organization WHO guidelines, experts consider a healthful sperm count to be 15 million per milliliter ml , or at least 39 million per ejaculate. Doctors consider a sperm count under 15 million per ml to be low, and it may cause fertility issues.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Infertility is more common than you might think. It affects about one in every six couples, and researchers estimate about one in every three cases is due to fertility problems in the male partner alone 1 , 2. While infertility is not always treatable, there are some things you can do to boost your chances of conceiving. Fertility can sometimes be improved with a healthy diet, supplements, and other lifestyle strategies. This article lists some of the main lifestyle factors, foods, nutrients, and supplements that have been associated with improved fertility in men.

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Healthy sperm aren't always a given. Understand how lifestyle factors can affect your sperm and what you can do to improve your fertility. If you and your partner are planning a pregnancy, you might be wondering about the health of your sperm.