Why You Should Put 40+ Fertility Scare Stories To Bed

Scary new stats from the Hebrew University of Journalism see an average 60% decrease in sperm counts of Western men. Put simply, our lifestyles and exposure to various chemicals are slowly tanking our fertility.

Thankfully, to dismiss scary science and take a firm grasp on your future as a parent (and up your numbers in the process), you just need to sleep on it. Redress the balance by employing these easy sleep tips to up your swimmers' chances of conception.

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.


1. The Great Divide

Your partner is your key sleep disturbance, so try placing a pillow between you to see if it helps matters. This will do little to prevent duvet thieves, mind.

2. Play By The Book

Tied to your Kindle? Despite the circadian-friendly claims, the light your Paperwhite emits has been shown to mess with your rest. Stick to paperbacks.

3. Cold Comforts

There’s a reason why the cool side of your pillow is so addictive. Overheating makes it harder to achieve deep sleep. Drop your room temperature to 18°C.