Infertility/Fertility: Male

[mishy]

Has anyone read that Saw Palmetto would help with 0 sperm count?

[healthyinOhio]

I have known that Saw Palmetto is awesome for the male parts   But don't know about sperm increase.  This is something, unfortunately, I know too well.

I read from www.raysahelian.com that an herb called maca?  is good.  Also, fish consumption(choose high oiled ones, and be careful of mercury content)  and fish supplements are good sperm productors.  Let me know what you think.

[ForeverGirl]

I've heard that red meat is good for that.

Red meat: A little mineral like zinc could be so critical to a man's potency. Even short-term losses of the nutrient can reduce semen volume, sperm count and testosterone production, making conception difficult. The typical American diet is already low in zinc, and the supply can be reduced even further by alcohol and medications. Red meat is one of the best food sources of zinc. Just adding 5mg of folic acid to 66mg of zinc sulfate can really help sperm to "concentrate" on the business at hand.

http://www.gladiatordiet.com/fertility.htm 

[mishy]

Thanks for the info!

[wifey]

What are some "awesome" things that Saw Palmetto do for the male parts?

[healthyinOhio]

Saw Palmetto is always recognized as the "male"herb much like red raspberry leaf goes well with the female reproductive side.  It maintains a healthy prostate, promotes healthy urinary functioning, and overall well being of the male anatomy.  Hope this helps to answer your question.   

[Barbie]

Maca is great for sperm count, also for sex drive and energy and balanced hormones for men and women. great little plant.

[healthybratt]

Maca is great for sperm count, also for sex drive and energy and balanced hormones for men and women. great little plant.

What is maca?  Could you elaborate?

[healthyinOhio]

HB,

Maca is a root vegetable from the Peruvian area.  It gives energy and stamina a lot like ginseng would.  It is really good for the male anatomy!     My husband takes it once a day (525mg) of a brand by Thompson.

[mrshutch]

Does anyone know anything about herbs or products that would help with a man's fertility.  Long story---we tried for 5 years to have a child.  I went through all the testing, on fertility medicine.  Anyway--we quit trying and had our son.  He is now almost 5, and we are trying to have another child.  Once again--after a year of trying--no success.  I do not want to go through all of the tests again, and it is just almost physically impossible to have my husband tested (work schedule, distance to doctor's office)  Anyway,  any ideas?

Ladissa

[lotsagirls]

Hi!  I don't know much on the subject but have read a lot at bulkherbstore.com.  I myself am drinking the Red Raspberry Tea to strengthen my uterus after 2 c-sections.  But it says that it helps with male fertility as well.

I am new here, but it seem as there are many wise women here that could help!

Hope you find some answers!

ndmomof4

[MQM]

Okay, perhaps a dumb question...

Can a semen analysis be done through one's PCP or only through a specialist?  And does anyone know if basic medical insurance plans would cover this lab or probably almost none? 

I may try to call to get info, but since it's my husband's insurance plan (through his work) and I am not on the plan, I don't want to go through the hassle of:  "Are you the provider member?" NO. "Then we can't give you any information about the plan".  And I don't want to bug my dh about calling if it's pretty much a no-brainer and waste of time.

I'm guessing it probably doesn't, but a woman can hope!    Thanks for any info!

[MamaSong]

Does anyone know anything about herbs or products that would help with a man's fertility.  Long story---we tried for 5 years to have a child.  I went through all the testing, on fertility medicine.  Anyway--we quit trying and had our son.  He is now almost 5, and we are trying to have another child.  Once again--after a year of trying--no success.  I do not want to go through all of the tests again, and it is just almost physically impossible to have my husband tested (work schedule, distance to doctor's office)  Anyway,  any ideas?

Ladissa

You would have to find a doctor willing to try this, but this is what my MIL did in the 60's before they conceived my husband.  My FIL was a macho type who wasn't about go to the doctor for something so personal, so my MIL had him come home for some "fun" at lunchtime and then she quickly rushed to the doctor's office.  The doctor was able to get the sample needed from inside her.  Sure enough, his sperm count was low.  Other than the boxers instead of briefs trick, I don't recall all of what they did. 

[kamom]

   I can't answer all of your questions, like the one about insurance, because we self-payed. But I do know that you do not need to see a specialist to get a seman analysis.
  At that point, I had done quite a bit of testing through my Gyn. She then suggested that he get checked, she simply wrote out the lab work for him, I took it home, we got some into the container and one of us dropped it off at the hospital lab. Saaved him the cost and embarrassment of having to see the Dr about this.   Good Luck!
  On a side note, the test came back way beyond the "normal" counts and we're still waiting on the Lord for another baby.

[healthyinOhio]

Okay, perhaps a dumb question...

Can a semen analysis be done through one's PCP or only through a specialist?  And does anyone know if basic medical insurance plans would cover this lab or probably almost none? 

Your doctor may be able to request a semen analysis, but I am thinking he would need to see a proctologist. I am pretty sure that lab work, other than blood and stool, requires a specialist.  Any nurses, here know?
My husband has had three semen analysis done.  The first two were not covered completely by insurance and we paid about $80 out of pocket.  The third, and most recently, we only paid about $9 out of pocket.  Something wrong must have happened in the paper dept. and I am not saying a word! 

[earthymomof2]

Whoever does YOUR usual pap and well-woman care (OB, midwife, Family Physician) may be able to order a semen analysis too.  Since infertility is a "joint" problem, there's a lot of crossover as far as who orders the analysis. 

[MQM]

Thanks so much, ladies, for your quick and helpful responses.  As it turns out, dh's insurance has been changed to now have a $1500 deductible before insurance will cover anything, so anything beyond necessary (like a semen analysis ) is totally out-of-the-question as far as he's concerned, at this point, because it would basically be an out-of-pocket expense.

On a side note, the test came back way beyond the "normal" counts and we're still waiting on the Lord for another baby.

I don't necessarily believe our fertility problems are because of him any more than me, but since I don't have insurance and he does, I just thought it would be nice to be able to rule something out, with little expense, if possible.

For three years, we have not prevented a pregnancy and have not conceived, in spite of having two children in our first three years of marriage.  Quite puzzling, and it looks as if we aren't destined to have any answers anytime soon.  Oh well!  Back to square one... Simply trusting the Lord... 

[herbs girl]

Thanks so much, ladies, for your quick and helpful responses.  As it turns out, dh's insurance has been changed to now have a $1500 deductible before insurance will cover anything, so anything beyond necessary (like a semen analysis ) is totally out-of-the-question as far as he's concerned, at this point, because it would basically be an out-of-pocket expense.

On a side note, the test came back way beyond the "normal" counts and we're still waiting on the Lord for another baby.

I don't necessarily believe our fertility problems are because of him any more than me, but since I don't have insurance and he does, I just thought it would be nice to be able to rule something out, with little expense, if possible.

For three years, we have not prevented a pregnancy and have not conceived, in spite of having two children in our first three years of marriage.  Quite puzzling, and it looks as if we aren't destined to have any answers anytime soon.  Oh well!  Back to square one... Simply trusting the Lord... 

I just want to say that you can get do it yourself kits to look at the sperm count yourself at home. They come with a microscope and instructions, ect, and you can also get kits that tell you how good the sperm swim. It would be much more "private" and less embarressing way to find out some answers.

Micra home sperm analysis

http://www.early-pregnancy-tests.com/spermtest.html

FertileMarq male fertility sperm test

http://www.early-pregnancy-tests.com/fertilmarq-male-fertility-tests.html

Fertell
http://www.early-pregnancy-tests.com/fertell.html