Sperm health is finally getting talked about, but talk isn’t enough. What we’re seeing in real time is that couples are being screened, not supported.

A partner gets a semen analysis, the numbers come back less than ideal, and then… nothing. No guidance on nutrition, minerals, gut health, circadian rhythm, or supplements. No explanation of why sperm quality is struggling. The only “solutions” typically offered are to wait and retest, consider a varicocele evaluation, or move straight into treatment.

But sperm quality is deeply connected to physiology, especially minerals, inflammation, and gut function. When there’s an imbalance, there is something to support. And when you actually address what the body needs, sperm parameters can change far more quickly than people realize.

That’s the missing piece in most fertility journeys, and it’s exactly what this newsletter is about.

Case Study: Two Miscarriages, Years of Trying, and a Surprising Root Cause

A couple came to us after two miscarriages and almost two years of being unable to conceive again. Like so many women, she thought the issue had to be hers: her hormones, her cycle, her stress. But they decided to run HTMA tests for both of them, along with stool testing.

His results were eye-opening.

He had:

• Extremely high copper
• Significant iron imbalances
• Clear signs of gut dysfunction

And when copper accumulates, it often leads to:

• Low testosterone
• Poor sperm quality
• Low libido
• Digestive issues
• Inflammation that directly impacts the testes

We shifted the focus to his mineral balance and gut stress, and this was the turning point.

He started:

• A custom mineral blend designed to lower copper and support zinc and iron regulation
• A binder to help remove heavy metals and accumulated copper
• Basic dietary changes
• Simple circadian rhythm habits (morning light, consistent meals, earlier wind-down)

His libido, which had been almost nonexistent, returned quickly, often the first sign that testosterone and mineral balance is improving.

And the most beautiful part?

5 months later they conceived.​
And they’re now well into the second trimester.

This wasn’t luck. It was physiology.

Why Minerals Matter So Much for Sperm

Research continues to show that men with the highest levels of sperm damage, low count, or poor motility often have imbalances in the very minerals that build and protect sperm.

Key patterns we see on HTMA in men with fertility struggles:

1. High Copper​
   Interferes with zinc, lowers testosterone, increases oxidative stress, slows gut motility, and reduces sperm count/motility.
2. Low or Imbalanced Zinc​
   Zinc is required for sperm formation, motility, testosterone, and protecting sperm DNA.
3. Iron Dysregulation​
   Both low iron delivery and iron overload create oxidative damage that sperm are extremely vulnerable to.
4. Gut Dysfunction​
   When the gut is inflamed, testosterone production drops. When testosterone drops, sperm quality plummets. These are inseparable systems.
5. Circadian Rhythm Stress​
   Testosterone is produced during deep sleep and regulated by light exposure. Minerals determine how resilient this system is.

If semen parameters are “off,” mineral balance is almost always part of the root cause.

What This Means for You

If you’ve been trying to conceive, or you’ve experienced loss, or you’re feeling the weight of unexplained fertility struggles, your partner’s mineral health matters just as much as yours.

Supporting both partners doesn’t just improve sperm quality. It improves:

• libido
• testosterone
• mood
• energy
• gut function
• long-term fertility

And most importantly: it reduces the emotional burden women tend to carry alone.

If You Want Help Getting to the Root

This is exactly what we do in our Nurture Your Fertility program. We run mineral testing for both partners, uncover the hidden stress patterns (gut, minerals, hormones, heavy metals), and build a plan that supports conception from both sides of the equation.

If you and your partner want personalized support, you can apply to work with our team here. We’d love to help you get the clarity — and the results — you deserve.

We also have a mini fertility podcast series that includes an episode on men’s health. You can listen to that here!