09/04/2025
“Even worse, no research supported that drastic drop, yet, it’s become the benchmark, fueling the illusion that most men are ‘fine,’ while time to conception increases and miscarriage rates climb.
Here’s the kicker: A 2017 study showed that men with counts below 55 million per milliliter take significantly longer to conceive.3 That’s not infertility, but it’s far from optimal, and that distinction matters, and couples aren’t being told the difference.
So what do I look for in practice? Not what’s standard, I look for what’s optimal. My clinical benchmarks return to the 50th–75th percentile of that original 2009 study. We’re not chasing bare minimum, we’re restoring vitality.” – Dr. Marcia Schaefer, DC
The truth is that every 90 days, men are rewriting the story their biology passes on. “It Starts with Him: Rethinking S***m, Stress, and the Legacy We Leave Behind” unpacks why male fertility is about so much more than numbers, and how small, intentional shifts can transform conception and legacy.
Keep reading this article in Issue 86 of Pathways now: https://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/pregnancy-birth/it-starts-with-him-rethinking-sperm-stress-and-the-legacy-we-leave-behind.html
