A healthy diet and lifestyle is the most important aspect of a good fertility programme, writes Dr Bhatti.

Sub-fertility in men accounts for 40 to 50 per cent of cases of infertility in couples. In another 20 to 30 per cent both the male and female are sub-fertile. It is therefore extremely important to address the male factor for couples having difficulty conceiving.

It is important to visit your GP to rule out the possibility of infection, trauma, varicocele, structural damage or endocrinological problems as a cause of infertility. It is common, however, that male infertility is found to be idiopathic (no known cause).

Your healthcare practitioner will analyse several components of sperm: volume, sperm count, motility (movement) and morphology (shape). There are a number of influences to consider when trying to improve the quality of sperm. Environmental and nutritional factors have a direct impact on the healthy production of sperm.

Complementary medicine practitioners use a multi-disciplinary programme incorporating acupuncture, nutrition and herbal medicine for issues with fertility. Because men are continually making sperm, it takes around three months for sperm to be formed, so a treatment plan would consist of at least several months.

A healthy diet and lifestyle is the most important aspect of a good fertility programme. Start eating as much organic food as possible. Many commonly used pesticides contain substances that have an estrogenic (oestrogen like) effect on the male body which can have an impact on spermatogenesis (sperm formation). In addition, many chemicals can make their way into foods, which also affects spermatogenesis. Environmental heavy metals also have toxic effects on sperm quality and production.

Try to avoid using plastics. Plastics also contain xenoestrogens (oestrogen like substances). Avoid microwaving in plastic. Being overweight can affect male and female fertility. Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked with a decrease in sperm count. Smoking and the use of recreational drugs may reduce sperm count and can cause abnormal morphology.