It takes two to make a thing go right!

Trying to conceive? First things first, check a semen analysis off your list. That's right. Making babies takes two ingredients - the sperm and the egg. I'll be honest, the majority of my fertility clients identify as women. Some of them have male partners, some of them are becoming single parents by choice, some are queer couples with sperm donors, and some are straight couples with sperm donors. No matter the circumstances, we need healthy sperm to get pregnant. Women or those wishing to carry a pregnancy have long been the focus of getting pregnant, but most people don't know that at least a third to one-half of all fertility struggles are male-factor. That means that low sperm health or parameters are responsible for the inability to conceive or are at least a contributing factor. 

And yet, as I’ve seen with hundreds of clients, male partners do not often take an active role in the fertility process besides being available during the fertile window. The majority of men are reluctant at best to get a semen analysis. Just like women are taught that being a woman is tied to their ability to be a mother, men are also taught that their manhood is tied to their ability to reproduce. This hasn't done anyone any favors! These outdated beliefs are strongly ingrained in our society and contribute to a lot of heartaches when we feel like we've failed at being enough or feel less than those around us if we struggle to get pregnant.

Shout it from the rooftops.

A great piece of information I hope you can share with your partners, friends and anyone who will listen is that a semen analysis is the least invasive of all fertility tests. It often happens that women are stuck with needles, uncomfortably probed with imaging devices, and put through countless tests to diagnose a possible fertility issue before the sperm is ever looked at. I'd argue that the semen analysis should be the FIRST test for those who have a male partner or known sperm donor. It's easy peasy comparatively and can save you tons of time and money. And you know what makes it even easier? Fellow at-home kits.

FELLOW is an amazing local Bay Area company that has come out with a kit that you can use AT HOME and send in for analysis all from the comfort of your own home. Use referral code EASTBAYACU to get $20 off of your kit today.  Fellow also offers their customers health and wellness tips to improve sperm quality and medical research regarding sperm health. 

What do you do if your semen analysis comes back less than optimal or abnormal?

We can help guide you through the process. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help to improve men’s fertility in terms of sperm quality, motility, volume, and morphology. We also focus on getting our clients in the most optimal general health which will help your whole body function better. We offer diet and lifestyle tips to improve sperm health and optimize your fertility chances. We will give you recommendations on what supplements, vitamins, and other herbal therapies will help you as an individual. If we think you need to see a specialist or have a structural issue, we have a network of providers to refer clients to. 

Our concise, simple and straightforward approach works well for our male clients and provides them with the support they need to feel comfortable with acupuncture while also putting them at ease to discuss their fertility concerns. When male partners and sperm donors say yes to our care, we see stronger bonds being created between these men and their partners. Fertility challenges no longer become a women's issue and both partners feel empowered to work together to create the family that they are striving for.

At East Bay Acupuncture, we offer our male fertility clients acupuncture and herbal medicine support to give you and your partner the best possible chance at conceiving.

Reach out for more information

Painting by Joseph Lorusso, 1966