Listen to clinic owner and acupuncturist, Sarah Prater discuss how the Tennessee Center for Reproductive Acupuncture supports male fertility.

This post includes links to products and supplements we use and trust at the clinic. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep sharing helpful health guides with our community.

In the world of fertility, the spotlight often lands on the female partner. However, reality paints a different picture. It’s important to remember that male factors contribute to fertility challenges in about 40% of cases. Optimizing male reproductive health isn't just a "box to check"; it is a foundational step in your shared journey toward a healthy pregnancy.

Step One: Semen Analysis

We often recommend a semen analysis as a starting point. It’s a simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective tool that provides a wealth of information. Additional testing, such as DNA Fragmentation can also be performed to get a clear picture of sperm health. Understanding whether we are navigating issues like oxidative stress, hormonal shifts, or structural concerns (like a varicocele) allows us to move away from guesswork and toward a targeted, effective plan of action. Some underlying causes of male factor infertility are treatable through medication or surgery.

If your doctor doesn’t recommend one as part of a comprehensive fertility work up, you can reach out to a local fertility clinic or urologist who often perform them routinely and we highly recommend it.

An image with two pictures, one showing a human egg being fertilized by sperm, and the other showing acupuncture. The text summarizes the ways acupuncture can boost male fertility. Increased sperm count, improved morphology, hormonal regulation — How Acupuncture Supports Sperm Health

Acupuncture can be a wonderful tool to support male fertility health. By reducing systemic inflammation and improving blood flow, research shows it can impact:
**Sperm Count & Quality:** Preliminary studies indicate acupuncture may help increase the total number of sperm and, crucially, improve morphology (the shape and structure of the sperm).
**Hormonal Regulation:** Much like in women, acupuncture can help to regulate the HPG (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis). We use specific protocols to help regulate the hormonal balance required for healthy sperm production.
**Stress Reduction:** Acupuncture helps shift the body out of "fight or flight" and into a state of rest, repair, and reproduce, which is vital for reproductive function.

The 90-Day Rule:

Because it takes approximately three months for sperm to fully mature (spermatogenesis), we recommend beginning treatment 90 days before your scheduled fertility cycle or intended conception date. However, it is never too late to start—positive changes can begin at any stage of the process.

This image has two photos, one of a doctor pointing our different parts on a model sperm and another with a couple holding hands while at an appointment for infertility treatment. The test says "Treatment recommendations: Diagnosed male factor infert — Acupuncture Treatment Protocols

In treating male fertility, we often divide into two groups: Those with a diagnosed fertility issue and those with normal semen analysis.
**Diagnosed Fertility Issue:** For these men, we recommend weekly acupuncture treatment often combined with supplement recommendations and possible herbal medicine.
**Men With Normal Semen Analysis:** If your test results don’t show any problems, you can still benefit from acupuncture to support the health of your sperm. In this case, we typically recommend acupuncture every other week and supplements to support overall male fertility health.
**Individualized Treatment:** While we do use treatment protocols to guide and inform our practice, we understand that not every person fits neatly into a protocol. Your first appointment will include a full consultation, in addition to acupuncture, to come up with a treatment plan, supplement recommendations (if necessary), and lifestyle support that works for you.

Foundational Support & Nutrition

Beyond the clinic, we focus on nourishing sperm health through high-quality supplementation and antioxidant support. These help protect sperm from oxidative damage and boost cellular energy:
**Diet/Lifestyle:** We recommend a whole-foods based diet rich in a colorful array of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and adequate hydration.
**Alcohol:** Excessive alcohol intake (more than 7 drinks a week) is associated with poorer sperm health and sex hormones.
**Smoking:** There is evidence that smoking can have an adverse effect on several key parameters of sperm health and it is recommended to stop smoking for optimal fertility.
**Avoid Hot tubs and saunas**: Frequent sauna and/or hot tube use can cause increased scrotal temperature can negatively impact spermatogenesis.

An image showing recommended male fertility supplements: Omega 3, CoQ10, and Conception XR antioxidant support from Theralogix. — Supplements for Male Fertility Health

Our evidence based supplement recommendations include an anti-oxidant designed to support sperm health, omega-3 fatty acids, as well as CoQ10. We recommend a brand called Theralogix for all of our fertility supplements. Links, including our PRC discount code (137923) are below.
For specific research, please check out the links in our references section at the bottom of this post.

TNCRA Recommended Supplements:

We recommend one of the antioxidant supplements, depending on your specific needs, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, and CoQ10 as a baseline for male fertility support.

Targeted Antioxidants These provide the specific nutrients needed to protect sperm DNA and support normal fertility. We advise our patients to choose one antioxidant support.

Conception XR Reproductive Health Formula (RHF): Here in the clinic we refer to this as a male prenatal. It is ideal for anyone looking to optimize his fertility even with normal semen analysis parameters, or those where motility is not a concern (IE: IVF with ICSI)
Conception XR Motility Support: This includes the ingredients in Conception XR RHF, but has additional ingredients for motility specifically. This can be used in anyone who has known motility issues or wants to optimize their motility. We often recommend this version to couples trying naturally, with medications, IUI, or IVF with standard fertilization.

Additional Targeted Support: Both of these supplements are recommended in combination with one of the antioxidants above for all of our male patients going through infertility treatment.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Think of CoQ10 as fuel for the mitochondria—the "battery" of the sperm. Boosting these levels can significantly improve both sperm count and motility (how well they swim).
TherOmega: Omega 3 fatty acids can help support sperm health by decreasing DNA fragmentation and improving the quality of the sperm themselves.

Want to grab them quickly in one place? Here are direct links to a cart with PRC Discount applied:

Why Theralogix: We are incredibly selective about the supplements we recommend. The supplement industry is largely unregulated, which means "what’s on the label" isn't always "what’s in the bottle." We recommend Theralogix because:

NSF® Certified for Purity: Theralogix is one of the few brands that voluntarily undergoes NSF International certification. This is a rigorous, third-party testing process.
Physician-Formulated & Evidence-Based: Their products are designed by a Medical Advisory Board of reproductive endocrinologists and scientists. Each formulation is based on published clinical research.

If you or your partner are interested in learning more or setting up an appointment, please feel free to reach out via phone (865) 315-3845, email Info@tennesseereproductiveacupuncture.com, or use our online scheduler.

We’re always happy to help!

References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023029304

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4639396/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9588744/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27792396/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19666200/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22416013/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25951427/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25405715/

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/4/836

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40265-023-01853-0

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/and.14533