Re-posted from Co-fertility (www.cofertility.com)
Let’s face it—there are a lot of things that can go wrong with your (or your man’s) sperm, and a ton of reasons why you might be looking for the best male fertility supplements.
We’re taught as kids that “nobody’s perfect,” and this couldn’t be more true than when it comes to male factor infertility; it’s actually super common and affects a third of all fertility troubles, according to the National Institutes of Health. But when you’re faced with sperm issues (sperm count, sperm morphology, or low sperm motility) it doesn’t matter how common it is. It’s still overwhelming, and you want to do whatever you can to make them go away. We get it. And while they won’t necessarily magically rid you of your sperm issues overnight, thankfully, male fertility supplements can help. Here’s the lowdown on male fertility supplements.
What do male fertility supplements do, anyway?
If you’re thinking about male fertility supplements, we’re going to go out on a limb here and assume you’re trying to conceive. Good news: you’re already doing something right! You get a gold star. It’s recommended that a woman takes prenatal vitamins while she’s #ttc, but it takes two to tango, after all…so it’s important to give sperm just as much attention as eggs.
Here’s what male fertility supplements (claim to) do:
- Increase sperm count: Nutrient deficiencies can lead to decreased sperm concentration or count. Male fertility supplements claim to help men get the right nutrition they need to get that “strength in numbers” kind of sperm. The more sperm you’ve got, the higher the likelihood one will make it to an egg.
- Preserve sperm quality: Regardless of sperm count, getting pregnant often comes down to sperm quality. This matters, for example, when doing IVF—in order to fertilize the egg in a lab, an embryologist will need to utilize high quality sperm (and thanks to ICSI and PICSI, this process has become easier). Male fertility supplements claim to provide the nutrients needed for healthy, quality sperm.
- Protect sperm as they mature: While most men produce millions of sperm each day, getting those little guys to stick around and mature is another story. Making sure your sperm is mature and high quality at the time of conception is key here.
- Boost overall health: Aside from the more tangible/direct benefits upon your sperm, just getting your overall health in balance prior to conception is always a plus and may have ancillary fertility benefits. Increased energy and better sleep are two outcomes many male fertility supplements tout.
One teensy note: we advise taking male fertility supplements for at least a few months before trying to conceive. If you’ve already hopped on the babymaking train, no worries—you can still start taking male fertility supplements. Just know that new sperm mature every 2-3 months, so you should wait a bit to test with your doctor and see if you experience any positive changes.
Interested? We thought so. And because you’re busy enough worrying about your sperm health, we’ve gone one step further to take out some of the legwork for you and rounded up some of our fave male fertility supplements below. You can thank us later.
Best male fertility supplements
Beli
The lowdown
In our opinion, Beli is one of the best male fertility supplements out there. Created just for men’s fertility, Beli’s supplement contains a proprietary ingredient blend specifically designated to improve sperm count, sperm growth, sperm quality, and sperm motility. Every single ingredient in Beli is thoughtfully included due to research indicating how that particular ingredient will improve a man’s sperm (you can check out that research for yourself here). We also love that Beli calls their supplement a “vitality” blend—the male equivalent of a prenatal.
Beli is basically the gold standard of male fertility supplements, and they’ve really done their diligence to make sure they’ve included everything you need and none of the junk that you don’t.
What makes it unique
Say it with us: Shilajit (“shee-la-jeet”). Studies have shown that this miracle ingredient from the Himalayas can increase sperm count up to around 60%. Shilajit has also demonstrated positive effects upon energy, balance, and cognitive function. Yet, surprisingly, no other male fertility supplement contains it.
In addition to the Shilajit factor, the awesome thing about Beli is that it’s on autopilot. Once you sign up, you get a new 30-day supply delivered monthly. Sometimes it’s hard to remember ordering new vitamins, but with Beli, you basically set it and forget it. That said, if you’re just not feeling it, there’s no commitment. You can cancel at any time.
Beli’s all about consistency, hence the subscription model. Rather than a one-and-done bottle (which, honestly, might not do you many favors), the folks at Beli reinforce that it takes about 3 months of taking the male fertility supplements to ensure your sperm matures and strengthens. For truly optimal results, you should start taking Beli at least 6 months before trying to conceive. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, guys. If you’re serious about improving your sperm long-term and achieving pregnancy, Beli is an awesome option.