“The reason we recommend a male-developed prenatal vitamin is because there is a wealth of data to show that abnormal sperm are typically produced in an inflammatory environment in the testicle,” says Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, one Fertility specialist who acts as a medical advisor to Perelel, a new prenatal supplement brand offering a multi support pack for men. When these sub-optimal sperm are produced, they create a reactive oxygen species that makes the other, healthy sperm around them very susceptible to oxidative stress. “Bad sperm creates a bad environment that creates more bad sperm and a worse environment,” says Dr. Levine. “These sperm will then be less likely to be able to achieve their goal of ultimately successfully fertilizing an egg.”

While doctors rarely prescribe prenatal vitamins for their male patients – according to Allen Morgan, MD, a New Jersey-based fertility specialist, “most men of childbearing age are mostly in good health” – he states it is advisable can be for those who have low sperm count, poor motility, or too many abnormally shaped sperm. These problems, he explains, are most common among those who smoke, drink excessively, or eat poorly.

“By taking a male prenatal vitamin that is completely focused on increasing circulating antioxidant levels in the body, the testicular microenvironment is” buffered “so bad sperm will ruin it for any other sperm that will arise,” says Dr. Levine. Expectant fathers taking a prenatal vitamin not only help create a better environment for sperm to thrive, but it also has the potential to offer other non-fertility-related benefits. “These elements have other benefits for the body and help slow the aging process, improve immune function, and improve skin and blood vessel health,” says Dr. Morgan.

So while most fathers might not need Having a prenatal vitamin like mothers do, it is worth speaking to your doctor to see if incorporating a vitamin into your routine is the right choice for your individual path to conception.

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