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Age

Although there are lots of reports of older men fathering children, sperm counts naturally decrease and become less mobile with age.

As fertility expert Zita West, author of Zita West's Guide To Getting Pregnant says: "A recent study showed that men aged 35 or older are 50% less likely, over a 12-month period, to achieve conception with a fertile partner than men under 35."

Reduce your stress

A little worry can be healthy, but studies have shown that stress plays havoc with your body's hormones.

Try to reduce hours at work and take it easy. Stress, in particular, blocks the production of the hormone GnRH which is vital for sperm production.

Exercise

Obviously exercise is good because it keeps you fit, helps you relax and reduces stress. Zita West says: "Being overweight will mean you are hormonally imbalanced."

Just make sure you don't over-exercise, because this can be as bad as not exercising at all, by putting too much demand on a man's body and stopping it producing sperm. Doing something simple like jogging, swimming or even walking will be good for your body.

A word of warning: Hard bike saddles really can affect sperm production, so be careful.
- Get advice and tips on easy exercise

Illness and injury

There are various conditions that can reduce sperm production. STIs like gonorrhea can make a man infertile, while a high fever can damage sperm for up to six months.

A nasty blow to the groin, from a ball for example, can also cause problems. It can cause torsion of the testis, which is basically when the testes twist on themselves - if it's not diagnosed quickly, it can leave a man infertile.

More help and advice on conception

- Eat to get pregnant
- 10 things you need to know about ovulation
- Determining the sex of your baby
- Find out more about infertility

By Rob Mansfield

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