We have known for some time that male fertility depends on sperm-cell architecture. When a man has a low strict morphology (a detailed study of sperm shape) the chance of natural conception is very low and often requires IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection ( ICSI) to achieve a pregnancy.
A University of Illinois study reports that a certain omega-3 fatty acid is necessary to construct the arch that turns a round, immature sperm cell into a pointy-headed super swimmer with an extra long tail. Normal sperm cells contain an arc-like structure called the acrosome that is critical in fertilization because it houses, organizes, and concentrates a variety of enzymes that sperm use to penetrate an egg.
The study shows for the first time that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is essential in fusing the building blocks of the acrosome together. Marine fish, such as salmon or tuna, are excellent sources of this omega-3 fatty acid. For those who do not wish to eat fish numerous supplements are available.
For more information please check out our Lifestyle & Fertility section,