Sunday, November 21, 2010

Low sperm count Causes

The main cause of male infertility is low sperm count. Many biological and environmental factors can cause low sperm count in men. The causes of male infertility have been explained in texts of ayurveda. Few of these factors are discussed below.

Age: Studies have shown that the rate of fertility decreases as age of men increases. Low testosterone level and degeneration of tissues may cause lowered fertility in aged persons. Ayurveda acharyas recommend “Vajikarana therapy” to elderly men. This therapy keeps men as strong as “Vaji” ( Horse) by increasing their sexual energy and stamina.

Stress: Emotional Stress produces stress hormones which interfere in production of sperms. This results in low sperm count. Stress reducing techniques like Yoga, Meditation, deep breathing etc help to reduce stress. Hence ayurveda acharyas have included herbs like Ashwagandha in Vajikarana category.

Lubricants: Lubricants used in condoms or Vaseline can affect sperm count.

Testicular Exposure to Overheating.: Over heating of testicles due to fever, saunas, hot water bath tubs etc reduce sperm count. Persons who work with their lap tops keeping them on their thighs may encounter low level of sperms. Men who are exposed to very high temperatures at working place may also face this condition. Ayurveda acharyas recommend washing of testicles with cold water twice daily.

Cocaine or marijuana: Cocaine or marijuana reduces sperm count by 50%. They reduce the swimming ability of sperms. According to principles of ayurveda these substances are “tamoguna pradhana” . Tamoguna induces lethargy and sleep. Hence sperms lose their ability to swim when these substances are consumed.

Smoking. Studies have shown that smoking reduces sperm count and sperm motility. It also reduces life span of sperm. Apart from this it causes erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation which are also causes of primary infertility.

Nutrient deficiencies: Nutrients like as vitamin C, selenium, zinc, and folate help in production of healthy sperms and they also help to increase their count. Deficiency of these nutrients may lead to low sperm count.

Obesity: Few studies have shown a relationship between obesity and low sperm count. According to ayurveda caharyas heating of testicles due to overlapping belly may lead to low sperm count.

Trauma to testicles: Any trauma to testicles may interfere with production of sperms. Usually Bicycling, raiding motor bike, etc lead to lowering of sperm count.

Apart from these genetic factors, toxins, chemicals, heavy metals and infections may also hinder production of sperms which results in low sperm count. Exposure to X-ray and other radiations may also act as causative factors for lowering sperm count.

Varicocele : Varicoceles are found in 15% to 20% of all men and in 25% to 40% of infertile men. It is not clear how they affect fertility, or even if they do at all.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.Krishna.R.S is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda Health Care for Mencontact him drkrishnars@gmail.com .Read more at Low sperm count causes

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Stress and Libido in Men - How to Boost Sex Drive in Men Naturally

Stress and libido in men do not go hand in hand. They seem to be having an inverse relationship. Increased stress in your life can make you lose all your desire to have sex. Not only this, it can also trigger erectile dysfunction. Almost 10-20% of all cases of erectile dysfunction stem from stress related psychological issues.

Stress tends to increase the production of hormone Cortisol in your body which affects testosterone levels adversely. Since testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, a drop in its production leads to lack of sex drive and triggers erectile dysfunction. Not only this, low testosterone levels can also lead to reduced energy levels, loss of lean muscle, increased body fat and weight, mood swings, depression, irritable behavior etc.,

There is hardly any aspect of your body that remains unaffected with a drop in testosterone levels.

How to Reduce Stress

Certain relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can be a big help. Personally, I find deep breathing exercises extremely helpful. Just lie down on a bed and take a deep breath. Hold it for a few seconds and exhale through the mouth. Make sure you take a second or two more to exhale as compared to inhaling.

Repeat this exercise for a few minutes and you would be surprised to see how it can reduce stress.

Another great method of reducing stress is to workout regularly. Regular exercise is a great stress buster. Not only this, it also helps boost blood flow to the genitals and ensure an increase in your libido.

Lack of sleep or sleep deprivation is another factor that can lead to in your stress levels, As a result most men experience a drop in their libido. What is worse is that they do not understand what it causing this drop in their sex drive and begin blaming their family and kids.

Getting adequate sleep helps reduce stress. It is one of the most effective ways to regain your sex drive.

Natural Supplements

Besides reducing stress, there are some natural supplements that are a rich blend of herbs and other nutrients that not only increase blood flow to the penis and boost testosterone production but also help reduce stress. Some of the ingredients in such pills include panax ginseng, ginkgo biloba, muira pauma, tribulus terrestris, long jack, acai berry etc.,

Panax ginseng not only helps boost blood circulation in your body but also helps reduce stress. Not only this, it also helps build sperm. Such supplements not only give a boost to your libido or sex drive but also ensure powerful erections. Another interesting fact about the such high quality supplements is that they can also stimulate growth hormone production and reverse age effects to a great extent and that too without any side effects.

Read complete article by Paul Norman @ http://www.ayurveda-increaselibido.com/articles/stress-libido.html