The World Health Organization’s Standard Examination and Diagnostic Manual for Infertile Couples defines male infertility as “a person who has had a history of sexual intercourse without contraception for 12 months and has not conceived. Recent epidemiological findings show that male infertility accounts for about 40% of infertile couples. According to the U.S. authorities, in recent years, due to the impact of environmental factors and the role of chemicals, has reduced the sperm of adult men up to 50% to 70%. The World Health Organization predicts that male infertility will be the third most threatening disease to human health in the 21st century, following cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The causes of male infertility are complex, including congenital genital development abnormalities (such as testicular hypoplasia, penile malformations, etc.), genetic diseases (such as abnormalities of the beam chromosome, etc.), endocrine diseases (pituitary gland, thyroid disease, diabetes, etc.), varicocele, sexual dysfunction, physical and chemical factors (environmental pollution, warm environment damage to the testicles, drugs, etc.), psychosomatic factors, and many others. In terms of individual patients, there are often multiple factors affecting fertility, so when it comes to each specific patient, careful examination is required to develop individualized treatment plans, including both causative and symptomatic treatment, according to different situations.
In the daily clinical work, almost all patients with male infertility ask about dietary contraindications when they visit the clinic, and now we will describe the dietary regimen of male infertility to you. The actual fact is that you can find a lot of people who are not able to get a good deal on a lot of things.
1, protein: protein is the main raw material to generate sperm. Arginine is the main component of sperm production, yam, eel, cuttlefish, walnuts, peanuts, nori, etc. all contain more arginine.
2, vitamins: vitamins have an important role in providing raw materials for sperm and semen, promoting the synthesis and chemistry of sperm, enhancing the anti-infection ability of the accessory gonads, and maintaining the metabolic process of sperm, especially vitamin E and vitamin A can regulate testicular function and enhance sperm vitality. Animal liver, vegetable oil, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin, lentils, dates are rich in vitamins.
3, trace elements: trace elements are closely related to male reproductive function and can affect the production and vitality of sperm. When the body lack of trace elements or insufficient content, it will affect the production and vitality of sperm, zinc is involved in the synthesis and transport of testosterone and the activity of sperm and fertilization. Zinc deficiency in the body can lead to low male gonadal function, smaller testicles and reduced or stagnant sperm production. If the body is deficient in manganese, it can cause men to develop sperm maturation disorders, resulting in little or no sperm. Selenium deficiency can reduce the source of energy needed for sperm activity, so that sperm motility decreases. You should eat more fish, shrimp, oysters, clams, mussels, kelp, eggs and foods containing more trace elements such as fungus, walnuts, honey, soybeans and brown sugar.
According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, essence is the material basis of human growth, development, sexuality and reproduction, and the innate essence must be nourished by the acquired essence in order to be enriched and strengthened. The essence of the latter must be nourished by the essence of the latter in order to be enriched and strengthened. The essence of the latter must in turn be vaporized by the essence of the former in order to be produced. Dietary nutrition is the material basis of the acquired essence, so through dietary therapy, we can achieve the effect of nourishing the kidney and filling the essence.
According to the theory that the kidney harbors essence, it is important to consume foods that nourish the kidney and benefit essence in dietary supplementation, such as: yam, eel, ginkgo, sea cucumber, frozen tofu, tofu skin, peanuts, walnuts, sesame, etc. Some foods can improve libido and increase fertility, such as: jujube, honey, grapes, lotus seeds, edible mushrooms, dog meat, mutton and animal whips. Chinese medicine’s dietary supplementation and Western medicine’s nutrition coincide and share the same view.
The following is a classification of the characteristics of semen, respectively, the corresponding dietary regimen.
I. Excessive semen volume: Normal male semen volume is about 2~6 ml per discharge. If the semen volume exceeds 6 ml, and the semen is thin in texture and has very few sperm, it is called too much semen. The diet introduces a porridge and a medicinal wine for selective application.
1, can use lotus seeds (remove the heart) 15 grams, wolfberry, rice 30 grams each, cook porridge, cooked with sugar to eat. It is suitable for the seminal fluid increase syndrome of kidney qi disintegration. (Kidney Qi is not solid in the clinic can appear: semen volume and thin, lumbar acidity, energy does not continue, slippery sperm, premature ejaculation, urine more and clear long, incomplete urination and other discomfort.)
2. 9 grams each of deer antler and spermaceti, 10 grams of seahorse, and 1 set of yellow dog kidney. Yellow dog kidney soaked in wine and cut thin slices, soak in 1000 ml of white wine for 7 days and then take 15-30 ml each time, 2 times a day, for seminal emission disorder of vital gate fire failure type. (The evidence of fire failure of the vital gate may appear clinically: excessive semen volume, unheated extremities, aversion to cold, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, pale face, dizziness and tinnitus, clear and long urine and other symptoms.)
Second, the amount of semen is too little: each time the amount of semen discharge is less than 1.5 ml, or only a few drops, excluding excessive sexual intercourse, spermatorrhea, excessive slippage, belong to the amount of semen is too little. Diet the following four medicinal meals to choose from.
1. 1 white pigeon, remove the hair and internal organs, 24 grams of Chinese wolfberry, 50 grams of yellow essence, stewed or steamed for consumption, suitable for patients with kidney essence deficiency. (Kidney essence deficiency can appear as low semen volume, forgetfulness, tinnitus, lumbar and knee weakness, fatigue and other uncomfortable symptoms.)
2.Ginseng, Atractylodes, Poria, Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Glycyrrhiza Uralensis 5 grams each, 50 grams of silver fungus, 50 grams of sea cucumber, a little salt. Foam sea cucumber with warm water, remove impurities, wash, slice, put the medicine in a gauze bag, put it into a casserole, add the right amount of water, put the right amount of salt, and boil it with a gentle fire. When the fungus and sea cucumber are cooked, remove the gauze bag from the herbal medicine and consume. Generally take it once a week. It is suitable for those who have deficiency of qi and blood (deficiency of qi and blood evidence, the patient manifests as low semen volume, fatigue, emaciation, panic, shortness of breath, pale white face and other discomforts.)
3, mulberry ice sugar soup: fresh mulberry seeds 50 to 75 grams, cooked with water, add appropriate amount of ice sugar, take soup to drink. 2 times a day, can be drunk as tea. Suitable for patients with internal heat of yin deficiency. (Patients with internal heat of yin deficiency may have little semen, feverish sweating of the hands and feet, dryness of the mouth and throat, distress and insomnia, etc.)
(3) Non-liquefaction of semen: semen is liquefied in about 30 minutes after it is discharged from the body, if it cannot be liquefied in more than 60 minutes, it is called non-liquefaction of semen. Nowadays, medical science believes that semen liquefaction is determined by the enzymes in semen, and these enzymes originate from the prostate gland, so patients with semen non-liquefaction all have different degrees of chronic prostatitis. It is generally believed that spicy and stimulating foods as well as oily foods will affect the activity of the enzymes. The actual fact is that you should avoid spicy and oily foods, as well as quit smoking and drinking. In order to increase the chances of semen liquefaction, you can consume some sugar foods such as maltose and caramel.
Fourth, the semen does not solidify: under normal circumstances, the semen discharged from the body in contact with the air is in a gel state. If the semen is not in a gel state after discharge, but is directly liquefied, or even thin like water, it is called semen non-coagulation. This disease is mostly accompanied by abnormalities in sperm count, vitality and viability. The following provides two medicinal meals.
1, mutton and angelica soup: mutton, angelica, system of spermatozoa, ginger. The latter 3 herbs combined with lamb simmering soup, when the lamb is cooked, take the soup to remove the medicine, eat meat and drink soup. It is suitable for those who have kidney yang deficiency and the failure of the vital gate fire type semen does not coagulate. (Kidney yang deficiency and vital gate fire failure may manifest clinically as thin semen, fear of cold, coldness in the vulva and extremities, pale complexion, mental weakness, lumbar soreness and weakness. Urine clear and long, frequent urination and other discomforts.)
2, benefit essence soup: ginseng 15 grams, astragalus, yam 20 grams each, sparrow brain 5, hen 1, water hair mushroom 15 grams, seasoning appropriate amount. Cook the hen and sparrow brain together in a pot, and when it is seventy years old, add astragalus, yam, shiitake mushroom and seasoning, and simmer it with a gentle fire until the meat is rotten. Soak ginseng in boiling water, steam in a cage for half an hour, drink soup and eat meat and chew ginseng. This soup can be consumed by anyone with deficiency of kidney essence and deficiency of qi and blood. (Those with deficient kidney essence and deficient qi and blood may have symptoms such as semen not coagulating, forgetfulness, tinnitus, weakness of the waist and knees, fatigue, panic and dizziness, insomnia and dreaminess.)
Fifth, oligospermia: clinically, sperm density below 15 × 106/ml is called oligospermia, which is one of the main causes of male infertility and has a high clinical incidence. The following two medicinal meals are beneficial to the recovery of the disease.
1, leek, fresh shrimp 150 grams each, an egg. Leek fried shrimp, egg, once a day, 10 days for a course of treatment. It is suitable for those who have infertility due to deficiency of kidney yang. (Deficiency of kidney yang can be seen as a decrease in the number of sperm, fear of cold, pallor, mental weakness, lumbar soreness and weakness. Impotence and premature ejaculation and other symptoms.)
2. Sea cucumber, 100 grams of glutinous rice. Soak the sea cucumber, clean it, slice it and boil it, then add glutinous rice, cook it into thin porridge, and take it with seasoning. It is suitable for those who are infertile with kidney essence deficiency. (Kidney essence deficiency can result in reduced sperm count, forgetfulness, tinnitus, lumbar and knee weakness, fatigue, etc.)
Sixth, weak spermatozoa: also known as low sperm motility, refers to less than 25% of class a sperm, or less than 50% of a+b; WHO 5th edition guidelines call less than 32% of forward sperm as weak spermatozoa. This is one of the main causes of male infertility. Diet.
1, green shrimp fried leek, 250 grams of green shrimp, 100 grams of leek, cut into sections. First stir-fry green shrimp in veggie oil, add seasonings and then add leeks stir-fry, cooked and ready to eat. It can be eaten regularly and has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on those with deficient kidney yang and weak sperm due to the failure of the vital gate fire. (Kidney yang deficiency and fire failure of the vital gate may clinically manifest as low sperm vitality, low sperm count, aversion to cold, coldness in the vulva and extremities, pallor, mental weakness, lumbar soreness and leg weakness. (Urine clear and long, frequent urination and other uncomfortable manifestations.)
2, sheep crest porridge: 1 sheep crest bone, washed, chopped, Cistanches, Semen Cuscutae 30 grams each wrapped in gauze, add the right amount of water, cook and stew for 4 hours, take the soup and add the right amount of rice to cook the porridge, add the seasonings after the porridge is cooked, and serve. It is suitable for people with kidney essence deficiency with weak sperm. (Kidney essence deficiency can appear poor sperm vitality, forgetfulness, tinnitus, lumbar and knee weakness, fatigue and other clinical manifestations.)
3, coix seed porridge: each time take 30-60 grams of coix seeds, with 100 grams of rice with the porridge, eat once in the morning and once in the evening, with the function of clearing damp heat, for damp heat caused by low sperm vitality. (Clinical manifestations of damp-heat injection are low sperm vitality, thick and yellow semen, or non-liquefaction, red eyes, testicular swelling and pain, yellow and red urine, dry stools and other symptoms.)
Seven, deformed spermatozoa: the previous view refers to a condition in which the number of abnormal forms of sperm in the semen exceeds 20%. It is one of the important causes of male infertility. However, in recent years, this definition is controversial, and the World Health Organization defines it as less than 4% of normal form as teratozoospermia. In short, whatever the definition, it is an abnormal increase in the number of teratogenic sperm. In terms of diet.
1, fried shrimp, take 500 grams of river shrimp, 2 egg whites, and dry starch and other seasonings. First wash the shrimp, mix with salt, then add the egg whites, stir, add dry starch, and well. Add cooking oil to the pot, oil to 40% hot, add the mixed shrimp, cooked before adding the seasonings, pot can be served. It has the function of warming the kidneys and strengthening the yang. (For people with high sperm malformation rate, cold fear, cold extremities, white face, low spirits, sore back and weak legs. Urine clear and long, frequent urination patients.)
2, Chinese wolfberry porridge: 60 grams of Chinese wolfberry, 120 grams of round-grained rice. Wash the Chinese wolfberry with round-grained rice and cooked into porridge can be eaten. Has the function of nourishing liver and kidney yin and blood.
The majority of infertility patients in reference to the above dietary regimen, but also need to pay attention to some of the following taboos.
1, smoking: smoking can reduce the level of testosterone in the blood and make the penile arteries atherosclerosis. Smoke contains harmful substances that damage sperm, so that sperm damage. Through electron microscopy, long-term heavy smokers, their sperm manifestation membrane will occur erosion, reducing sperm vitality and survival rate. The birth rate of deformed children in men who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day is as high as 2.1%. In men who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day, the number of sperm is significantly reduced, and sperm movement posture and morphology are impaired. At the same time men smoking will make pregnant partner’s miscarriage rate increased to 60%.
2, drinking: the production of alcohol brings joy to mankind and brings health to the human body. But the opposite is true, a lot of alcohol or regular alcohol consumption and add a lot of trouble and disease to life. Alcohol can make the testicles atrophy and testosterone levels in the body to reduce, thus affecting the production of sperm, leading to infertility. At the same time, alcohol has a toxic effect on the normal development of germ cells, and drinking large amounts of alcohol can directly damage sperm. Modern research shows that 70% of sperm in the semen of men after heavy drinking are not well developed or not very vigorous. In Chinese history, Tao Yuanming, Li Bai, Du Fu, etc. were all very intelligent, but because of a lifetime of alcohol as a companion, the offspring were extremely mentally retarded. The emergence of “Saturday” fetuses in Western countries further illustrates the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on offspring.
Foods that affect sperm.
1, cola, Sprite, strong coffee and other regular consumption will have different degrees of impact on sperm, worthy of our attention.
2, should not eat cottonseed oil, because it contains cotton phenol on sperm production has a great destructive, long time consumption, can make the testes spermatogenic function disappeared;.
3, celery, pig bile and other foods can also affect the quality of sperm.
In addition, due to environmental pollution, some heavy metals such as lead and mercury can contaminate food (seafood is often found to have serious mercury overload). There is also the long-term consumption of food contaminated with chemicals, which is also an important factor causing reduced male fertility.
The causes of male infertility are complex and the treatment period is long, so male patients need to patiently cooperate with doctors and adhere to treatment, develop good habits and pay attention to personal hygiene, especially external genital hygiene. Avoid the stimulation of undesirable factors, such as radiation, high temperature, wearing tight jeans. Regulate your emotions, don’t be anxious and increase your confidence. Good dietary regimen helps to nourish the body and also helps to restore fertility.
I hope the above will bring help to the majority of male infertility patients.