Men Spend $250 a Month on 'Sperm-Maxxing' as Male Factors Drive 30% to 50% of Infertility
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Jun 18
Men Spend $250 a Month on 'Sperm-Maxxing' as Male Factors Drive 30% to 50% of Infertility
2 articles · Updated · WIRED · Jun 18
Summary
$250 a month in supplements, semen tracking and other “sperm-maxxing” habits are drawing more men into fertility care as awareness grows that male health can shape conception outcomes.
One in six people worldwide face infertility, and studies estimate male factors contribute to 30% to 50% of cases, yet men are still not evaluated in roughly one in four cases.
Doctors say the useful takeaway is basic screening and lifestyle change—not online biohacks: weight loss, exercise, sleep and quitting smoking matter more than raw-milk diets, icing or microplastic fixes.
Evidence for many popular interventions is weak or mixed; a randomized trial found zinc and folic acid did not improve semen quality or birth rates, and testosterone therapy can reduce fertility.
Researchers say sperm health reflects broader health and may affect miscarriage, preeclampsia and some birth-defect risks, but major research gaps remain and overpromising “optimization” can fuel guilt and self-blame.