New Study Says Men Who Go To Bed Early Produce Better Sperm

A new study by researchers from an institution in Denmark, Aarhus University, has disclosed that men who go to bed early could have better sperm compared to those who sleep late.

The study according to www.independent.co.uk revealed that men who go to bed before 10.30pm were up to four times more likely to have good quality sperm.

In the same light, the researchers added that men who got around eight hours a night were also more likely to have healthy sperm than those who got less than seven.

The authors of the study suggested that couples looking to conceive should consider limiting distractions that might keep them up at night, such as checking emails or watching television.

While looking at sleep patterns of around 100 male volunteers who were attending fertility clinics in Denmark, the study said 48 of them had healthy sperm and 56 had low-quality sperm.

The researchers suggested that men who got less than seven hours sleep a night were as much as six times more likely to have poor sperm.

Prof. Hans Ingerslev, co-author of the study said sleep-deprived men suffer more stress which could have an impact on their fertility.

“Sleep plays a key role in moderating hormones and stress levels that can affect fertility.

“These were men who had been trying to have a baby for about two years and an early bedtime was likely to be important because it allowed them to get more sleep.”

Ingerslev and his colleagues also looked at overall sleep quality but did not find a link between disrupted sleep – from getting up in the night to the use of toilet, for example – and sperm quality.

The findings presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Vienna have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

While disagreeing to the study however, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr David Ede-Edokpolor noted that saying infections are the commonest cause of male infertility.

 “Our conclusion is that men should have enough sleep every day because sleep will help in effective body and hormonal function, including sperm production,” Ede-Edokpolor said.