GET SOME # DADNOD
If you’re fretting about starting a family, you’d be better off sleeping on it. The solution may be lying between your sheets
How you can raise your fertility in bed this evening. And no, it’s not what you think
British men are in the grip of an epidemic. And that grip is tightening, increasingly uncomfortably, taking your hopes of fathering children by the balls. Research carried out by the University of Copenhagen reveals that fewer than 25% of young European men have good-quality sperm (and no, Brexit doesn’t excuse you from this stat). What’s more, in the space of 40 years levels have halved in some areas. All of which makes for unhappy bedtime reading if you’re fostering dreams of siring your own #fitfam anytime soon.
Happily, the solution is altogether more appealing. A recent study by Boston University found that sleeping for more than six hours a night can save you from a 42% drop in your chances of conception. But when turning in early isn’t an option, you need to focus on sleep quality. That’s because similar research found improving the depth of your shuteye not only offsets the losses caused by poor rest, but boosts the quality of your sperm. In fact, men with a high level of ‘sleep disturbance’ have sperm concentrations almost a third lower.
With the reliability of expensive fertility treatments being called into question in recent months, it’s reassuring that an alternative solution lies closer to home. As well as avoiding the usual sleep distractions such as alcohol and late-night caffeine fixes, use these tips (right) from the top mind in switching off to help you sleep soundly and escape the nightmare of Britain’s fertility crisis. Sweet dreams.