For men looking to become fathers, going to bed early might be crucial for healthier and more effective sperm, according to a recent study. The research indicates that men who fall asleep between 8 and 10 p.m. exhibit the highest sperm motility, meaning their sperm swim better and have a greater chance of fertilizing an egg.
Conversely, men who went to bed after midnight had lower sperm counts and their sperm had a shorter lifespan. Sleep duration also impacts sperm health: getting less than six hours of sleep worsened sperm quality, while lying in bed for more than nine hours had similar negative effects.
Late bedtimes and insufficient rest increase levels of antisperm antibodies, proteins produced by the immune system that can damage healthy sperm. This finding, led by researchers from Harbin Medical University in China, was reported by the Daily Mail.
Previous research has shown that men who sleep only six hours a night have sperm counts that are 25% lower compared to those who get a full eight hours of sleep.
In the study published in Medical Science Monitor, scientists monitored the sleep patterns of 981 healthy men. Participants were instructed to go to bed at different times: between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., between 10 p.m. and midnight, or after midnight. They also varied their sleep duration: six hours or less, seven to eight hours, or nine hours or more. Regular semen samples were analyzed to assess sperm count, shape, and motility.
