Men who spend hours a day in the gym have a higher sex drive and sperm count than those who lead a lethargic life, a new study has found.
Published in the journal Reproduction, Professor Behzad Hajizadeh Maleki, of the University of Gieseen in mid-Germany, concluded that men who exercise between three to four times a week tend to see a considerable rise in their sperm count – and, by extension, their sex drive.
In fact, the German and Iranian researchers also found that moderate yet “continuous” and regular exercise improved a man’s sperm quality more so than following popular intensive, high interval exercise programs.
The study looked at 261 men who did not follow a regular exercise regime, and divided them into two groups – one of which was assigned 30 minutes on a treadmill four times a week, and the other quick bursts of sprinting four times a week.
After samples were taken from the men, it was found that those who participated in the moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) program showed the biggest improvements in sperm quality, and also maintained these benefits for longer compared to men who did the high intensity interval training (HIIT).
“Our results show that doing exercise can be a simple, cheap and effective strategy for improving sperm quality in sedentary men,” commented Maleki.
“It’s important to note, however, that male infertility is a complex problem and isn’t just based on sperm count,” continued the researcher. “Reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and losing excess weight are also recommended.”
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