随著全球不孕症影响约六分之一（16.7%）的人口，男性生殖健康问题正日益受到关注。虽然男性因素估计占不孕症案例的30%至50%，但在大约四分之一（25%）的案例中，男性并未接受评估。生活方式的选择和环境因素显著影响精子健康，而精子需要大约2至3个月才能发育成熟。诸如「精子极大化」（sperm-maxxing）等健康趋势鼓励男性监测精子参数，尽管某些做法并不科学。
医学研究强调，父亲的健康会影响妊娠结果，包括流产、子癫前症和婴儿先天缺陷的风险。研究显示，高饱和脂肪的饮食会降低精子数量，而地中海饮食则能改善精子品质。此外，环境毒素以及肥胖、吸烟和受热暴露等生活习惯会降低精子的存活率。虽然一些网红推广睪固酮疗法或保健食品，但睪固酮实际上可能会阻碍精子的产生，且临床试验显示，服用锌和叶酸补充剂与服用安慰剂相比，并无显著效益。
父亲的年龄也与精子品质下降有关，这会增加罹患思觉失调症、自闭症和妊娠并发症的风险。尽管有这些发现，研究空白仍然存在，因为许多研究依赖于小样本量或动物模型。像 Jesse Mills 和 Michael Eisenberg 等专家鼓励主动进行精液分析，将其作为一般健康指标，Michael Eisenberg 称其为「第六大生命体征」。然而，他们警告不要过度优化精子指标，因为健康受孕包含随机性，过度关注可能会导致不必要的自责。
Male reproductive health issues are increasingly gaining attention as global infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 (16.7%) people. While male factors contribute to an estimated 30% to 50% of infertility cases, men are not evaluated in roughly 1 in 4 (25%) instances. Lifestyle choices and environmental factors significantly impact sperm health, which takes about 2 to 3 months to mature. Wellness trends like "sperm-maxxing" encourage men to monitor sperm parameters, though some practices are unscientific.
Medical research highlights that paternal health influences pregnancy outcomes, including risks of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and birth defects. Studies show that diets rich in saturated fats lower sperm counts, whereas Mediterranean diets improve quality. Furthermore, environmental toxins and lifestyle habits such as obesity, smoking, and heat exposure degrade sperm viability. While some influencers promote testosterone therapy or supplements, testosterone can actually hinder sperm production, and clinical trials show zinc and folic acid supplements offer no significant benefit over placebos.
Paternal age also correlates with diminished sperm quality, increasing risks for schizophrenia, autism, and pregnancy complications. Despite these findings, research gaps persist, as many studies rely on small sample sizes or animal models. Experts like Jesse Mills and Michael Eisenberg encourage proactive semen analysis as a general health indicator, which Michael Eisenberg terms a "sixth vital sign." However, they caution against over-optimizing sperm metrics, as healthy conception involves randomness and excessive focus can lead to undue guilt.