MEN with this body shape are more likely to have strong swimmers and high fertility levels.
Trying to start a family isn't always easy. As many as one in six couples have fertility problems and the rates are rising.
Out of every 100 couples trying for a baby, 80 to 90 will get pregnant within one year, according to the NHS website. The rest will take longer, or may need help to conceive.
Sperm count has actually fallen over the past few years, according to a major Scottish study. However, most guys don’t think about the health of their sperm until they actually start trying for a baby.
How can you tell if you have strong swimmers?
Scientists have discovered that men with trimmer waits tend to have healthier sperm.
Researchers from the Netherlands found guys with a waist circumference of 40 inches or greater had a lower sperm concentration and slower moving swimmers, than those with slimmer stomachs.
A spare tire is believed to be bad for your fertility because weight around the midsection can interfere with the release of sex hormones and the development of sperm.
The reduction of sperm might mean couples struggle to get pregnant, but this isn't the only risk factor in waiting until later in life.
Women who get pregnant by older men are also more likely to miscarry.
“Whatever the age of the mother, the risk of miscarriage is higher if the father is over 45.” Dr Harper added.
“Sperm quality is highest in their mid-twenties and starts to decrease after the age of 40."
Here are four other signs you probably have healthy sperm:
1. You eat a lot of fish
Harvard University researchers found guys who ate more fish like salmon and tuna—had a 65% greater sperm concentration than those who ate the least.
2. You wear lose underwear
Men who wear boxer shorts instead of tight-fitting underwear are 24% less likely to have a low-motile sperm count, according to a 2012 study.
3. You avoid microwaves
Reheating your food in a tupperware container could be detrimental for your sperm.
This is because a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) can leach from plastics and seap into your food.
Researchers from Denmark found than men who had the highest levels of BPA in their urine had a significantly lower percentage of mobile sperm.
4. You exercise regularly
Men who exercise for 15 hours or more a week have a sperm concentration 73% higher, according to researchers from Harvard.
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