(Newser)
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Want a higher sperm count? Get off the couch and start working out. A new Harvard University study found that college-aged men who often exercise have as much as 73% more sperm than their lazier peers, Bloomberg reports. Specifically, those who worked out more than 14 hours a week had the highest sperm counts, while those who viewed 20 or more hours of TV per week had the lowest.
Previous studies of sperm count and athleticism focused on cycling and long-distance running, which can both reduce sperm count if practiced intensely. This study looked at all types of sports and physical activity. Researchers found that sperm counts started going up in those who exercised at least eight hours a week. As for why sitting on the couch is particularly bad for sperm count? It raises the scrotum's temperature, which affects semen production.
