If you haven’t looked into it yet, you should know— sperm health is just as important as egg health to your fertility journey. In fact, one-third of all infertility cases in heterosexual couples are solely related to reproductive issues in sperm-producing partners.

So where do you begin?

Ask your doctor for a semen analysis to take a peek at the overall health of those swimmers. When performing a sperm analysis, we’re looking for 3 crucial things:

1. Quantity

How many sperm actually exist in you or your partner’s semen? This is a probability-stakes factor; the higher the number of sperm, the higher the chance of getting pregnant.

2. Size and Shape

Also known as morphology, the size and shape of the sperm is important. They are the absolute key in ensuring that the sperm can penetrate the egg successfully.

3. Movement

Also known as motility, sperm movement is critical! If your sperm is moving backwards, it simply won’t make it during the journey to the egg. Because, what good is having a billion swimmers if none of them can move in the right direction?!

There are other factors to consider as well, such as pH, liquefaction, and volume. However, the above list provides a good general overview of what you should look for. When taking all of these factors into consideration, research suggests that up to 90% of infertility issues in sperm-producing individuals result from the first factor— abnormal sperm count.

Check out this list of vital nutrients you should consider when it comes to your sperm health.

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This is an excerpt from a post written by Cory Ruth, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and womxn’s health expert. Founder of the private practice and digital platform The Women’s Dietitian, Cory helps those seeking nutritional support in hormone balance, fertility, digestion, and weight management. 

Abridged content curated and edited by Jean Lin. Expanded to contain additional inclusive language and context.