Men produce healthy sperm and have higher chances of conceiving when they go to bed earlier, according to research from Aarhus University in Denmark.
Researchers found that men who sleep at 10:30 PM were up to four times more likely to have healthy sperm. These males are 2.75 times more likely to have healthy sperm than men who went to bed between half past 10 and half past 11.
Moreover, men who were able to sleep eight hours a night were more likely to produce high-quality sperm than those who had a record of less than seven. Men who recorded less than seven hours sleep a night were as much as six times more likely to have poor quality sperm.
Fertility experts encourages couples who want to conceive to avoid distractions that keep them at night, such as emails and watching Netflix.
The study’s results were based on the sleep patterns of 100 male volunteers who were participating in fertility clinics in Denmark. Forty eight of these participants had healthy sperm and 56 with low quality sperm.
Sleep is a factor in moderating hormones that are related to fertility. Meanwhile, sleep deprivation stress can trigger the immune system, which may overreact and attack sperm.
“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,” said Professor Hans Jakob Ingerslev, co-author of the study from Aarhus University.
“The reasons could be psychological as sleep-deprived men suffer mores stress and that can have an impact on fertility.”
Having examined overall sleep quality, Professor Ingerslev’s team did not find an association between disrupted sleep and sperm quality.
“They should think about what is keeping them up and try to change their habits, whether it’s binge-watching Netflix or sending emails,” said Dr Raj Mathur, a consultant gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
“Going to bed earlier with their partner may also increase their opportunity for sex, improving their chances of success further.”
