Good vitamins for the swimmers??

[souris]

Hi everyone,

In case Dh goes through sperm retrieval in Sept, I would like to make our max for his swimmers to be in good shape.

He was drinking a lot and he stopped, so I hope it will already make a difference. I am also cooking for him now, less fat, more veggs etc...

But can vitamins make the difference? I have been on Zita web site, but they are a bit expansive, do you know good ones but a bit cheaper?

Thank you guys for your help
xxx
souris

[Macca8]

Souris,

My husband was put on a list of vitamins before sperm retrieval and yes it worked great. The consultant has written across our file "sperm motility excellent, quality excellent" She said that was as a result of vitamins. He took Vit C and Zinc, Selenium and Vit E.

Lisa xxx

[souris]

Hi Lisa, thank you

How long before retrieval did your Dh start taking them? was it one multivitamin with all the vitamins in (if yes do you mind giving me the name?)
On last retrieval, we had some ok-ish sperm. Not very motile, some weird shape... but we still had 3 eggs fertilised, so it was not all that bad...
The doc said it was because of Dh age...

Thank you very much!

Take care
souris
xxx

[Macca8]

Hiya Souris,

He started taking them about 3 months before the retrieval. It was 3 different packs of vits. One was Vit C and Zinc combined. 1 was selenium and 1 was Vit E. He was told not to smoke and reduce amount of alcohol. He still drank normally a couple of glasses of red a night. I think they would have told him off for that, but it did no harm.

I've just started taking Zita West's Vital DHA. Have to say I feel great for it. Been taking them 2 weeks. Apparently it repairs the ovaries and help you to release better quality eggs in ovulation.

Lisa xxx

[lynne]

Hi Souris,
My DH cut down on alcohol and took a normal multi- vitamin every day for 3 months. Apparently it takes 3 months for sperm to develop and become healthy, so it is best to take vits for at least that amount of time.
I think the thing that made a significant difference however was the fact that he slashed his caffeine intake to one cup of coffee a day (and we spent 6 weeks in Italy, so it was no small feat as he loves his coffee).

I'm surprised the doctor told you the sperm motility was because of DH's age. I thought guys could go on fathering children for ever. Does he smoke?
I've just got all my vits from Holland and Barrett. They were more expensive than I expected, but thinking about it they work out to about 1euro50 a day, so that's not bad. I am sure you'll be able to get the vits from an internet site. I wasn't sure about trying out Zita's concoctions not only because they are expensive but because I wanted to know exactly what I was taking and choose my own doses.
Good luck.

[charlie77]

hiya souris
i hav low sperm count and poor motility
and b4 our tmt i took well man tablets for about 3 months and it seemed to work for us
good luck
richard

[daly]

I agree with what everyone has said and wanted to only add that the amino acid carnitine can be very benificial according to some studies. It's not too expensive and I took it as well and it is good for both male nad female reproductive organs. Also, I love DHA or fish oils. They are a God send for so many aspects of health. Good luck!

[souris]

Hi guys, thank you so much for your answers!

I have two months to make Dh quit smoking, or at least cut down... I dont know if i am going to succeed!!?? will aslo try to make him cut down on the coffee as well.

For those who lives in the UK, to you think vitamins from boots or tesco will do the trick? I am flying to heathrow in a couple of days, so i might find them there?! i and know that they are not too expansive.

On my last cycle, my doc did not even tell me to take vitamins. I had some left from my first cycle (with another doc) so I took them.
I will definitely get some folic acid for myself on the next go.

I will make a list of all the vitamins names you sent, and will try to find the best, i am a bit scared though to over do it...

Lynne, yes , men can fathered until the end , but still, the sperm quality goes down with the age ( so I was told by the doc). Shape, motility, numbers etc...

Thank you guys
take care
souris
xxx

[souris]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to let you know that i just purchased 3 months of vitamins for myself and Dh. I found them on a website, specialised in fertility stuff (cheaper ovulation kit, pregnancy test and all kind of stuff)

I bought for myself some clearblue acid folic tabs and some wellman for dh.
Hopefully it will do the trick! Cant wait to start taking them... I hope i have not been too fast, i have not yet been to my consultation to discuss my next tmt (paraying for it to happen in September!!)

Big big thanks to all of you!

Souris
xxx

[em]

Hi there Souris
My partner is in the same boat, and there is PLENTY you can do to improve things. It may not be enough to get a natural pregnancy but you will definitely give yourself a better chance with any assisted conception. It is great that you are thinking of this now, as you have given yourself plenty of time for things to change, which they will. My partner's count doubled and mobility improved dramatically within 3 months. He did give up drinking and smoking which was obviously a great start. Yes, we still had to have ICSI but they said we had a much better chance now than we would have had 3 months earlier. Even though it didn't work on ICSI Round 1 we did get 100% fertilisation and they said that would never have happened had he not got his act together.
Acupuncture frees up energy channels - have you gone down this route? Sperms main enemy is heat. It kills them off, literally. Hot baths, tight pants and a laptop resting in the wrong place are bad news. My clinic says this is the No 1 culprit. Go for and jasmine / peppermint tea for him if he'll go for it, but you need warming, so ginger and chammomile are better for you!
The main vitamins for men are zinc (crucial) selenium and vitamin E. Vitamin C stops sperm clumping together. A good fish oil is essential too. Zita's vits are expensive and i think Solgar are an excellent cheaper alternative. A good healthcare shop will be able to advise you. Caffeine is a killer too by the way.
I have been through it all with my DP on this front so ask me anything you want. Its a mission.
Me 33
DP 34
Male factor
ICSI Aug 05 -ive
ICSI Mar 06 TESTING MONDAY OH MY GOD I AM GOING TO HAVE THE WEEKEND FROM HELL!