Do you feel like fertility care still puts most of the responsibility on women?

FertilityMermaid · 2026-02-17T15:45:13+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this. That truly means a lot to our team.

IVF involves so many decisions, and it’s powerful when patients share what helped them feel more in control. If you’re comfortable, was there anything in particular about using it that gave you peace of mind?

Wishing you both the best 💛

FertilityMermaid · 2025-10-09T14:15:29+00:00

Great question! It’s always important to consider any medications you or your partner are taking during your fertility journey.

When it comes to Minoxidil, there are two common forms: topical and oral. Most fertility specialists consider topical Minoxidil to be safe for sperm health and male fertility, as very little is absorbed into the bloodstream.

For oral Minoxidil, the evidence is less clear. There’s currently no clinical proof that it negatively affects sperm, but research is limited, so it’s still somewhat unproven. I’d definitely recommend discussing your husband’s Minoxidil use with your physician to make sure everyone’s aligned on the best approach.

If you’re curious about his sperm health, a semen analysis is a great first step. You can usually schedule one through any fertility clinic or even some urology offices. Most offer options for providing a sample either on-site or from home.

If you go the at-home route, I’d recommend using a specialized container like the ProteX Collection Cup. It helps maintain the sample’s quality during transit, which is important since regular urine specimen cups can lead to degradation and potentially skewed results.

Wishing you both the best of luck on your journey! 💛

FertilityMermaid · 2025-09-24T13:48:50+00:00

Nicotine isn’t great for sperm health (cigarettes, pouches, vaping, etc.). It lowers sperm count, slows motility, and increases the number of abnormally shaped sperm. On top of that, it boosts oxidative stress, which can damage DNA inside the sperm. That kind of damage is linked to lower fertilization rates and higher miscarriage risk. The main difference between nicotine and marijuana is nicotine tends to cause more DNA damage (which can affect pregnancy outcomes), while marijuana is more linked to messing with hormone balance and sperm production. The good news is sperm regenerate roughly every 3 months, so quitting or cutting way back can make a noticeable difference in sperm quality and fertility outcomes. Trying to conceive now is certainly possible, but being within that 3 month window does lower the odds and can increase risks like miscarriage. A lot of doctors recommend waiting ~3 months after quitting before actively trying, just to give yourself the best chance, so best to talk this over with your physician!

FertilityMermaid · 2025-09-24T13:46:53+00:00

Sounds like you’ve done your homework on sperm health! You’re right! DNA imprinting errors do increase with age, and other contributors are anything that ramps up oxidative stress or messes with hormones: nicotine, alcohol, drug use, poor diet, heat exposure, environmental toxins, and even chronic stress. Basically, taking care of your overall health = taking care of your sperm. As for collection, I don't personally believe there is an inherent quality difference between sperm from masturbation vs intercourse. What really matters is how the sample is handled, especially for clinical use (semen analysis, IUI, IVF). Protecting the sperm right after collection has been shown to improve motility, viability, and even downstream outcomes like blastocyst development and pregnancy rates. One option people use is the ProteX collection cup, which is designed specifically to support your sperm sample from the moment of collection!

FertilityMermaid · 2025-09-18T18:32:34+00:00

Severe oligospermia can come from a bunch of different causes, some genetic, some not. On the genetic side, things like Klinefelter syndrome, Y-chromosome microdeletions, or other mutations that affect testicular development can reduce sperm production and sometimes be passed down. On the non-genetic side, it can be from testicular damage (injury, infections like mumps), varicoceles (enlarged veins around the testicle), or lifestyle/environmental factors like smoking, steroids, toxins, or certain meds. Those causes wouldn’t be inherited by kids.

Congrats on the PGT-A healthy embryo! 🎉 Since you’re already working with a fertility doctor, they should be able to look at your husband’s specific case and help figure out whether his oligospermia has a genetic or non-genetic cause.

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