If you hear “prenatal vitamins” and think “moms-to-be,” you aren’t alone. But for couples trying to conceive, it’s just as important that men do what they can to optimize their fertility. In addition to exercise, a good diet, and cutting back on alcohol, the specialized nutritional support of a quality prenatal vitamin for men can go a long way. We spoke with Dr. Darren Bryk, andrology/male infertility fellow at the University of Virginia, for his top three reasons to swap the multivitamin for a men’s prenatal.
Key Takeaways
- The right conditions can optimize male fertility by supporting and promoting healthy sperm.
- Proper prenatal nutrition, including supplementation with a bioavailable form of folate, is linked to higher-quality sperm and fewer DNA abnormalities.
- Swapping a daily multivitamin for a men's prenatal vitamin is an easy way to get micronutrients shown to support sperm production.
- A high-quality men's prenatal vitamin can also help stabilize testosterone for new fathers, a time associated with a decline in this hormone.
The Precise Balance of Vitamins and Nutrients You Need to Conceive
Let’s say you’ve been hitting the gym hard over the last few months, and you’ve been just as committed to eating a lean, varied diet and getting plenty of quality sleep. Odds are good that your performance in the gym has improved based on all of your efforts. The same idea applies to your body’s ability to produce healthy sperm. According to Dr. Bryk, the right conditions can optimize your fertility. In fact, “anything a man can do to improve his overall health–eating healthy, staying active, avoiding cigarette smoking–can improve a man's fertility potential,” he says. And that includes focusing on the kind of prenatal nutrition that supports your body’s ability to produce superstar sperm.
"Proper prenatal nutrition for men, with consideration of adding a men's prenatal vitamin that includes CoQ10, may be associated with higher-quality sperm and fewer DNA abnormalities," says Dr. Bryk. And it’s easy! Switching from a men’s multivitamin to a men’s daily prenatal is a quick, non-invasive way to support and promote sperm health. Keep in mind that on average, it takes sperm roughly ten weeks to fully mature. Taking a quality men’s prenatal vitamin today is the best way to begin preparing for conception and fatherhood in the future.
Nutritional Support to Support Men's Fertility
Not every journey to fatherhood is a straight line. There are all kinds of hurdles that affect sperm quality and get in the way of optimal male fertility, including:
- Problematic habits like smoking, excessive alcohol use, and poor diet
- Health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure
- Interference from medications
- Normal aging
And while it’s common to assume fertility issues are an issue primarily affecting women, that’s just not the case. “A male factor can contribute to up to 50% of fertility issues,” notes Dr. Bryk. “This is clearly a significant portion. There are couples who can and do benefit from having the male partner evaluated by a urologist who specializes in male fertility.”
That’s an important piece of the puzzle, but so is a sensible approach to prenatal nutrition, which really can support and actively promote reproductive health.
Whether your goal is to raise your sperm count, boost your sperm motility — their swimming power — or increase successful fusion with the egg, look to a male prenatal vitamin that supplies the key vitamins and nutrients involved in sperm production.
Beli's men's prenatal contains a proprietary Vitality blend of essential nutrients, plus a powerhouse adaptogen called Shilajit. Shilajit has long been prized in Ayurvedic medicine for its spermatogenic support, and recent studies have confirmed its ability to help improve sperm quality and overall fertility potential of men.
An authoritative review of research about male fertility has revealed that oxidative stress is majorly correlated with poor sperm production in men. The same review of studies found overwhelming evidence in favor of taking a potent combination of antioxidants orally to reduce signs of oxidative stress. That’s exactly why the Beli Men Vitality men’s prenatal vitamin includes antioxidant powerhouses.
Your regular old men’s multivitamin can’t match the potency of Beli’s high-quality male prenatal, which is carefully formulated with the precise mix of vitamins and nutrients you need to help improve your sperm..
Bolster Your Vitality for the Birth of Your Baby (and Beyond)
It’s now settled science that most new dads experience a decline in testosterone during pregnancy and birth. Scientists have hypothesized that this decline paves the way for an increase in oxytocin—the hormone of love and connection. And that’s a beautiful change, because it supports you in being the present partner and father you’ve always dreamed you’d be.
But declines in testosterone can also have a negative impact on your mood and energy levels. Swings in testosterone levels after the birth of a child are associated with reduced sex drive, a lack of emotional resilience in the face of stress, and even paternal postpartum depression. The good news? The same balance of vitamins and nutrients that supported your healthy sperm production will continue to support a healthy lifestyle as you begin fatherhood.
Beli Vitality for Men is a vegan multi-vitamin formulated to support healthy sperm. It contains the carefully calibrated blend of vitamins and nutrients you need to support your health during your biological transition to fatherhood:
- Vitamins B6, B12, C, D, and E
- Folate
- Zinc and selenium as amino acid chelate;
- Amino acids L-carnitine and L-arginine
- Glutathione precursor N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
- The antioxidant CoQ10
- The powerhouse adaptogen Shilajit
Nourishing your nutritional needs throughout your partner’s pregnancy and during those whirlwind newborn days can give you the sustaining energy you need to enjoy every (exhausting and exhilarating) moment.
Takeaway
You’re so ready to be a dad — now is the time to switch your old multivitamin to the specialized nutritional support of a men’s prenatal. Remember, healthy pregnancies start with healthy sperm, and healthy sperm begins with proper nutrition. A quality men’s prenatal is one of the best ways to get started.