Male-Cause Infertility - the Secret’s Out

When a couple is trying to conceive and things aren’t going as planned, the focus usually shifts straight to the woman. Her hormones. Her cycle. Her stress. Her labs. Her supplements.

But the truth is, male factor infertility plays a role in nearly half of all fertility challenges.

And yet, it’s something we don’t often talk about—at least not with the same openness or support.

With Father’s Day around the corner, it feels like the perfect time to widen the conversation. Not to point fingers, but to share facts, offer support, and bring both partners into the process, because fertility is never just one person’s story.

It takes two to make a baby. It takes two to investigate why it’s not happening. It takes two to heal.

Let’s talk about the male side of the fertility equation—and what we can do about it.

Male Fertility 101: It’s More Than “Just Sperm Count”

When we say “male infertility,” most people think of low sperm count. But it’s more nuanced than that. There are four main markers of healthy sperm:

• Count (How many are produced)
  
  

• Motility (How well they swim)
  
  

• Morphology (How they’re shaped)
  
  

• DNA integrity (How genetically stable they are)
  
  

And all of those are influenced by nutrition, sleep, stress, toxin exposure, inflammation, and hormone balance—yes, in men too.

This isn’t just about making babies. Sperm quality is a reflection of overall male vitality—testosterone, energy, cardiovascular health, and even long-term disease risk.

What Affects Male Fertility?

Modern life isn’t exactly sperm-friendly. Some of the most common hidden disruptors include:

• Chronic stress + elevated cortisol
  
  

• Low testosterone (and estrogen dominance in men)
  
  

• Poor sleep or sleep apnea
  
  

• Toxin exposure (plastics, pesticides, heavy metals, etc.)
  
  

• Alcohol, smoking, or vaping
  
  

• Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, selenium, B12, folate, CoQ10, vitamin C)
  
  

• High body fat percentage + insulin resistance
  
  

• Excess heat (think: laptops on laps, hot tubs, tight underwear)
  
  

These aren’t just male issues; they’re human issues. But they directly affect sperm health. The good news? They’re also addressable through lifestyle changes.

When should he have a test? 

If you’ve been trying to conceive for 6+ months, especially if you’re over 35, it’s reasonable—and helpful—to check in on both sides of the equation.

A simple semen analysis can give you insight into sperm health. And even if the results come back “normal,” there are still ways to support optimization.

For many couples I work with, getting this information brings a sense of clarity and relief. It’s one more piece of the puzzle, and it can often guide the next right steps.

Supporting His Fertility Naturally: 5 Starting Points

Whether you're prepping for Father’s Day or prepping for IVF, these are easy, impactful shifts for supporting male reproductive health:

1. Ditch the plastics and processed food
   BPA and phthalates are hormone disruptors. Switch to glass containers and eat more whole foods.
   
   

2. Focus on sleep and stress
   Eight hours of sleep and reducing chronic stress can significantly improve testosterone and sperm quality.
   
   

3. Boost nutrient density
   Key players: zinc (oysters!), vitamin C, CoQ10, omega-3s, and folate-rich greens.
   
   

4. Move daily—but don’t overtrain
   Gentle strength training and daily movement support hormones. But overdoing cardio or HIIT can backfire.
   
   

5. Check his labs
   Functional testing for total and free testosterone, insulin, inflammation markers, and oxidative stress can reveal a lot.
   
   

💬 A Note for You, Partner to Partner

If you’re the one reading this and wondering how to bring it up with your partner, know this: you’re not alone. These conversations can feel delicate, especially when you both want the same outcome but aren’t sure what’s holding things up.

My advice? Share this article. Start the conversation. Make the appointments together. And if he’s open to it, a functional fertility protocol can support you both.

What helps most is shifting the focus from “what’s wrong” to “how can we support our health—together?” You’re on the same team. And shared understanding can bring you closer, even in a hard season.

Fatherhood Starts Before Baby

This Father’s Day, I invite you to see fertility as more than a lab result. It’s a reflection of what’s going on in the whole body—and the good news is, the body responds beautifully to the right kind of care.

The body that builds a child is the same body that will raise one. And the energy, resilience, and emotional presence you bring to fatherhood… it starts now.

If you’re ready to support your fertility from the inside out—naturally and intentionally—we’d love to support you both.