7 (totally valid) reasons we’d have our guy take a sperm quality supplement, pre-TTC

If you’re thinking about trying to conceive in the next year, there’s probably a good chance you’ve already started thinking about what you can do to prepare. Maybe you’re taking a prenatal, or cutting back on alcohol.

But what about him?

Sperm health deserves some attention in the pre-TTC months, too. In fact, sperm are being produced all the time, and the conditions in the body during the weeks and months before conception can influence sperm quality.

Picking up with Dr. Brian Steixner, MD, co-founder of SWMR Fertility, board-certified urologist and male reproductive health expert, we’re digging a little deeper into all the reasons why a targeted male fertility supplement can (and should) fit into a wider preconception routine for your guy.

SWMR Fertility For Men is a physician-developed male fertility supplement formulated to support sperm count, motility, and overall reproductive health, including for men with poor sperm test results, low sperm count, or azoospermia. 

Now, here are the seven reasons we’re on board.

1. Because sperm health matters before you start trying to conceive, not just during

One of the biggest misconceptions around male fertility is that you only need to think about sperm health once you’ve been trying to conceive without success.

Dr. Steixner sees it differently – from very personal experience. “We don’t approach women’s preconception health that way, and we shouldn’t approach men’s health that way either,” he says.

Sperm are constantly being produced, and their development is influenced by what’s happening in the body in the weeks and months beforehand. Nutrition, sleep, smoking, alcohol, heat exposure, illness, medications, metabolic health and environmental exposures can all play a role.

That means the pre-TTC period is a useful opportunity to make positive changes. If you’re wondering how to improve your sperm quality, start by looking at the basics: 

• eat well
• exercise regularly
• get enough sleep
• avoid nicotine and recreational drugs
• limit excessive alcohol
• be mindful of prolonged heat around his balls

A targeted supplement can sit really well alongside those habits as part of a proactive approach.

“I’d much rather see men become proactive about their reproductive health before they’re sitting in my office asking why they haven’t conceived,” says Dr. Steixner. “Preconception care should include both partners.”

2. Because sperm need the right nutrients to develop properly

Sperm production is a complex biological process, so there isn’t one magic ingredient that suddenly makes sperm healthier.

Instead, sperm production and function rely on a range of nutrients involved in processes including DNA synthesis, cell division, antioxidant defense and cellular energy production.

SWMR Fertility combines the right vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, including: 

• Zinc
• Selenium
• Folate
• Vitamins C and E
• Vitamin B12
• CoQ10
• L-carnitine
• NAC
• Glutathione

Each has a different role. Folate contributes to DNA synthesis and cell division, while zinc and selenium are involved in the structural integrity of sperm. CoQ10 and L-carnitine support cellular energy production, while vitamins C and E, NAC and glutathione provide antioxidant support.

And the research backs it up, having examined many of these nutrients individually and in combination.

3. Because oxidative stress is real, and it can affect sperm DNA

You may have come across oxidative stress in sperm while researching male fertility. It sounds a bit complex, but essentially, it’s about keeping the balance between free radicals and the antioxidants that help the body manage them.

Sperm are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage, which can affect how well they move and function, and can also cause damage to sperm DNA. This is one reason antioxidants get so much attention when it comes to male reproductive health.

Studies like this one have linked higher oxidative stress with poorer sperm function, although studies into antioxidant supplements vary in their ingredients, doses and results. 

With this in mind, it’s a good idea to start with the usual suspects: good nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep and cutting down on things that can increase oxidative stress, such as smoking and excessive alcohol, paired with that targeted supplement support.

4. Because sperm count matters, but sperm health is about more than that

If you’ve ever looked at a semen analysis, you’ll know that sperm count tends to get a lot of attention. It’s important, but it’s only one part of the picture.

A semen analysis can assess several different characteristics, including sperm concentration, motility, progressive motility, morphology or shape, semen volume and vitality. Depending on the clinical situation, a specialist may also recommend additional testing, such as sperm DNA fragmentation.

As Dr. Steixner puts it:

“A semen analysis needs to be interpreted as a whole rather than treating one number as a fertility score.”

So, if you’re looking at poor sperm quality, it’s worth considering the full picture rather than focusing on count alone.

Male preconception health also extends beyond what can be seen under a microscope. Sleep, exercise, nutrition, metabolic health, nicotine use, alcohol intake, heat exposure, medications and hormones can all be relevant.

A targeted male fertility supplement can form one part of that overall routine, alongside the everyday habits that support general health.

5. Because everyday diet doesn’t always provide everything he needs

A healthy diet should always be the foundation. No supplement can replace eating well, moving your body or getting enough sleep.

But there’s a difference between eating a generally nutritious diet and deliberately targeting nutrients that have been studied in relation to male reproductive health.

CoQ10, L-carnitine, zinc, selenium, folate and antioxidant nutrients including vitamins C and E all have roles in sperm production, cellular energy or antioxidant defense.

“A targeted formulation provides a simple, consistent way to incorporate these nutrients into a man’s preconception routine,” explains Dr. Steixner.

There are environmental factors to consider, too. Air pollution, plastics, chemicals, heat and other exposures can contribute to oxidative stress. You can make sensible choices to reduce exposure, but avoiding every potential environmental factor simply isn’t realistic.

The useful question is: what can he control?

Eating well, exercising, prioritizing sleep, avoiding nicotine and recreational drugs, limiting excessive alcohol and giving his body targeted nutritional support are all practical places to start.

6. Because fertility isn’t a female-only issue

There’s a reason we like the idea of making sperm health part of the TTC conversation from day one. Both partners, of course, contribute to conception.

Male factors are involved in a significant proportion of infertility cases, either independently or alongside female factors. Yet preconception conversations can still place most of the responsibility on the woman.

That can mean one partner is carefully planning their diet, taking supplements and making lifestyle changes while the other carries on as usual.

There’s a better way to approach it.

If she is preparing her body in the months before TTC, he can use that same window to think about his reproductive health. That might mean making changes to his diet, reviewing medications with a healthcare professional, getting more consistent sleep or adding a sperm health supplement.

And there’s a useful biological reason to start early: sperm development takes roughly two-and-a-half months, followed by further maturation before ejaculation.

“If your partner is taking a prenatal, tracking her cycle, changing her diet or preparing for fertility treatment three months from now, that same period is an opportunity for the male partner to be working on his health too,” says Dr. Steixner.

7. Because supporting his fertility shouldn’t wait for there to be a problem

So, should you take male fertility supplements? There’s no universal requirement for every man to take one, and a supplement shouldn’t be viewed as a substitute for medical advice, a balanced diet or healthy lifestyle habits.

But for couples prepping for TTC, a targeted sperm-health supplement can be a straightforward way for the male partner to take an active role in preconception health.

The timing matters, too. With sperm development taking around 90 days, starting nutritional and lifestyle changes a few months before TTC gives those changes time to become part of the sperm-development cycle.

And if a man assumes fertility supplements are only relevant after a diagnosis of infertility, Dr. Steixner has a simple response:

“You don’t need an infertility diagnosis to start taking your fertility seriously. Women have been encouraged to prepare their bodies before pregnancy for decades. Men should think about preconception health the same way.”

If you’re both prepping for TTC, that means making his preconception checklist too. Hop over to SWMR Fertility to learn more, and try SWMR Fertility For Men. Plus, as a TRB reader, you can snag 25% off with code TRB25.

Want to hear more from Dr. Steixner and the SWMR team? Read this one next: A male fertility specialist’s sperm regeneration cycle Q&A (& why timing supplements is key during TTC)