How Staying Hydrated Can Improve Your Reproductive Health

By now, you know that drinking water is good for you. It flushes toxins from the body, lubricates your joints, gives you better skin, and just basically makes all your body’s systems work a little bit better. Did you know, though, that staying hydrated can improve your reproductive health? Read on to learn more about this somewhat surprising fact.

First, let’s just point out that water keeps all of the organs and cells in your body functioning the way they should. This includes the reproductive cells, egg and sperm, along with the reproductive organs, the brain, ovaries, uterus, testes, and thyroid. Men need to stay properly hydrated so that semen production and volume stay at the right level. Sperm in semen thickened by dehydration will have trouble swimming.

For men, the need to drink water for a healthy reproductive system goes much deeper than that, though. Drinking enough water increases the plasma and blood volume in your body, allowing blood vessels and arteries to work more effectively and oxygenating the vital organs. When a person is dehydrated, the blood vessels and arteries conserve water by restricting blood flow to the organs. For men, this means that there will not be enough blood circulating in the penis to allow for a firm erection. Water also helps slow the aging process by flushing out toxins and free radicals, and when you’re hydrated, you have more energy for whatever you’re doing, including sex. Being dehydrated cases the body to release stress hormones that interfere with your natural hormone levels and make you feel fatigued. To sum up, drinking more water leads to a healthier sex drive, better erectile function, and better sperm quality.

Is drinking water as important for women as it is for men? Absolutely! For women, dehydration can result in poor egg health. It can also mean less cervical mucus, which is important for transporting sperm to the fallopian tubes. If she does get pregnant, her body will need water to create the right environment for the growing embryo. Water plays key roles in every aspect of fetal development, from fertilization through birth. It helps carry nutrients to the placenta, flushes toxins away, and makes the uterus a hospitable place.

So, how much water is necessary for good overall health, including reproductive health? A good rule of thumb is to drink enough ounces of water to correspond with the number of pounds in half your weight. You can tell if you’re properly hydrated because your urine will be pale, like straw or lemonade. Urine that is a deep, dark yellow means you are dehydrated. However, if your urine is colorless, you are drinking too much water, and this can cause your body to lose important salts and electrolytes. You can also tell if you are dehydrated if you are not urinating enough throughout the day. A healthy person should need to urinate seven to eight times each day. Paying attention to how much water you are drinking each day and making sure you’re not dehydrated can be an important part of starting your family.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love making the world better by helping people start healthy, happy families. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.