Healthy pregnancy takes two
His role in pregnancy loss — how to improve male fertility and support a healthier pregnancy, together.
After a loss, everyone asks about her,
almost no one asks about him
A miscarriage workup checks her hormones, her uterus, her chromosomes. His sperm is rarely mentioned — even though a growing body of research points to it as a real, and correctable, contributing factor.
You don't need to feel guilty. You need to know what's actually within your control.
Sources: World Health Organization (2023); AUA/ASRM Male Infertility Guideline (2024); McQueen et al., Fertility & Sterility (2019).
How his health affects miscarriage
Miscarriage is rarely about one person. Here's what the research actually shows about the male side — in plain language.
half the DNA
half the DNA
built from both
Every embryo is built from two equal sets of DNA. Both contributions shape whether it develops normally — which is exactly why his health belongs in the conversation.
Half the DNA is his
An embryo carries half its genetic material from the sperm. From the very first cell divisions, that contribution helps determine whether it develops normally.
Normal-looking sperm can carry damaged DNA
A standard semen analysis measures count, movement and shape — not whether the DNA inside is intact. That hidden damage is called sperm DNA fragmentation, and it needs a dedicated test to detect.
Damaged sperm DNA is linked to miscarriage
Men whose partners experience recurrent pregnancy loss consistently show higher sperm DNA fragmentation than fertile men. It isn't the only cause of a loss — but it's a real, measurable, and often overlooked one.
And it's often improvable
Sperm fully regenerates roughly every 74–90 days. Treating an underlying cause — like a varicocele — and focused lifestyle changes can lower DNA fragmentation within a single cycle.
Sources: McQueen et al., Fertility & Sterility (2019); Inversetti et al., Andrology (2025); WHO laboratory manual, 6th ed. (2021).
Three steps, in plain language
What his fertility has to do with it — and what to do next.
Understand
Sperm can fertilize an egg normally and still carry damaged DNA — and that damage becomes part of the embryo. Standard semen analysis doesn't test for it.
Start understanding →Test
Most recurrent-loss workups skip the male partner. Learn exactly what to ask for — including sperm DNA fragmentation testing — and how to explain why it matters.
What to ask for →Change
Heat, smoking, alcohol, weight and some medications all affect sperm quality — and sperm regenerates roughly every 90 days, so there's a real window to act.
The 90-day plan →Built for two, not one
Most fertility content is written as if only one partner is trying to conceive. We treat the male partner as equally part of the journey — because the research increasingly says he is.
Evidence-based
Every clinical claim is reviewed by a qualified clinician and linked to its source. We explain — we don't diagnose.
For both of you
He gets a section of his own here, not a footnote — with a plan he can actually follow.
Actually actionable
A 90-day plan matched to the real sperm production cycle — not a vague "eat healthier."
As an embryologist, I’ve spent years looking at embryos under a microscope, learning that even the most beautiful-looking embryo cannot tell us its whole story. I’ve also seen the heartbreak of pregnancy loss, and how often the conversation centres on the woman while the man’s role remains unexplored.
I created Embryo Health because miscarriage is not simply her story — a healthy pregnancy begins with two people, and understanding loss means understanding both. My hope is to bring knowledge, compassion and reassurance to one of life’s most difficult experiences.
The Male Fertility Quick-Check
10 yes/no questions to see whether male fertility deserves a place in your next conversation with your clinic. Five minutes — with your result and the questions to bring to your clinic at the end.
- ✓ Signs that male-factor evaluation is worth asking about
- ✓ The 3 questions almost no clinic asks proactively
- ✓ A plain-language next step, based on your answers
10 questions · 5 minutes · no account needed
Your 90-day plan, start to finish
The checklist tells you if male fertility deserves a closer look. The guide is the closer look.
His Role in Pregnancy Loss
Improve male fertility & support a healthy pregnancy.
A guided, save-as-you-go plan built around the science of sperm health and its role in embryo development and pregnancy loss.
- ✓ What standard semen analysis does and doesn't tell you
- ✓ Sperm DNA fragmentation testing, explained — and how to ask for it
- ✓ The lifestyle factors that matter most, and which ones are myths
- ✓ A 90-day plan matched to the real sperm production cycle
- ✓ Questions to bring to your clinic about a male-factor workup
Questions you might have
Can male fertility really cause a miscarriage?
Sperm carries half of an embryo's genetic material, and damaged sperm DNA can disrupt healthy early development even when fertilization looks normal on paper. It isn't the only factor, but it's a real and increasingly researched one.
Is this saying it's his fault?
No. Miscarriage almost always has multiple or unclear causes, and no one is to blame. This is about what's within your control going forward — not about assigning blame for what happened.
Is this only useful after a loss?
It's just as useful before one. If you're preparing for a first or next IUI/IVF cycle, following the 90-day plan ahead of time gives that cycle the best possible start.
What's the difference between the checklist and the guide?
The checklist is free — 10 quick questions that tell you whether male fertility is worth raising with your clinic. The guide ($19) is the full 90-day plan: the science, what to change, and exactly what to ask for.
Is this medical advice?
No. Embryo Health is educational — it helps you understand what to ask your clinic. Your doctor remains the source of medical decisions for your specific situation.
Start now. Start together.
Give your next pregnancy the best possible start — on both sides. Begin with the free checklist.
Get the free checklist