CARNAL NATION

Not that we need it, but science has provided us with one more good reason to have sex: stronger sperm. Reuters reports that having sex daily can improve sperm quality and increase the likelihood of pregnancy. Though some doctors have advised men to refrain from sexual activity for a few days before trying to conceive, new research out of Sydney, Australia suggests otherwise.

Dr David Greening of Sydney IVF, an Australian fertility center that helps clients conceive through in vitro fertilization, found that frequent ejaculations may improve the quality of sperm by reducing the length of time they spend in the testicular ducts. He explains that this reduced amount of time may decrease the exposure of sperm to reactive oxygen species which he describes as “potentially damaging molecules”.

Greening’s research study involved 118 men who had “above -average sperm DNA damage” and asked them to ejaculate daily for one week prior to testing. On average, participant’s sperm damage decreased from 34 percent to 26 percent according to their DNA fragmentation index, which measures the quality of sperm.

"It seems safe to conclude that couples with relatively normal semen parameters should have sex daily for up to a week before the ovulation date," Greening explains. "In the context of assisted reproduction, this simple treatment may assist in improving sperm quality and ultimately achieving a pregnancy."