A new study shows that if men get into the habit of regular exercise, not only can they maintain a fit body and make it stronger, but they can also make their sperm swim faster and greatly improve sperm quality. Researchers found that compared to sedentary men, men who exercise regularly have healthier sperm growth and therefore swim faster. When sperm swim faster and are of better quality, they are more likely to reach and enter the egg, improving the chances of conception. Over the past 50 years, male sperm quality has been deteriorating, mainly due to alcohol abuse, smoking and the increase in obesity. The Spanish researchers not only looked at sperm count, motility, sperm morphology and sperm quality, but also analyzed their hormone concentrations of testosterone, cortisone and follicle-promoting hormone. The results of the study showed that those men who exercised tended to have better sperm quality. Exercise does improve the hormonal environment that helps and stimulates sperm growth and production. The researchers noted that although proper exercise can help enhance sperm vitality, excessive exercise may have the opposite effect. Those professional athletes who have exceeded the average person’s exercise, their sperm quality is not as good as those men who exercise regularly.