Which of the male preconception myths have you believed?

"Doctor, I had a hysterosalpingogram and ovulation monitoring, everything is fine, so why can't I get pregnant?" Whenever I meet women trying to conceive who say this, I always ask, "Has your husband been tested?" Most answers are "He says men don't need to be tested, so he didn't" — preconception is never a woman's solo performance, yet many men are misled by myths: they either neglect optimization or take misguided measures, which actually delays conception. Today, as a gynecologist, I'll debunk 5 common myths about male preconception; each is illustrated with a clinical case—read on so your partner stops falling into these traps.

Myth 1: "Men don't need tests when preparing for pregnancy; as long as you can have intercourse, it's fine"

Debunking: Completely wrong! In outpatient practice, 30% of infertile couples have a male factor (reduced sperm motility, high teratozoospermia rate, azoospermia, etc.), and many men are asymptomatic—if you don't test, you simply won't know.

Case: 28-year-old Xiaomin had been trying to conceive for 1 year without success. Her husband insisted "there's nothing wrong with me," but finally agreed to a semen analysis, which showed sperm motility of only 20% (normal ≥40%). Fortunately, with timely interventions, motility reached the standard in 3 months and she became pregnant soon after.

Correct approach: 3–6 months before trying to conceive, the man should have a urology clinic perform a semen analysis (check motility, concentration, morphology). If abnormalities are found, then test prostatic fluid and sex hormones (to rule out inflammation or hormonal issues). It only costs about 200 yuan to screen for key problems.

Myth 2: "High temperatures kill sperm—so in summer you mustn't use a computer or wear jeans"

Debunking: Short-term mild heat (for example using a laptop or wearing jeans) will not kill sperm; only “long-term persistent high temperature” will have an effect (for example soaking in a hot spring for 1 hour every day, or long-term wearing of tight, non-breathable pants).

Principle: Sperm production is sensitive to “sustained high temperature” (above 37.5°C), but laptop radiation is extremely low, and jeans will not affect scrotal heat dissipation as long as they are not so tight they compress the abdomen.

Case: Li, age 30, avoided using a laptop in summer while trying to conceive, but during the period he stayed up late using his phone to look up information; as a result, sleep deprivation led to decreased sperm motility — staying up late is more harmful to sperm than using a laptop!

Correct approach: avoid "prolonged high temperatures" (limit hot spring baths and saunas), wear loose, breathable pants, and don’t be overly anxious about "everyday high temperatures."

Myth 3: "Eating kidneys and oysters can replenish sperm; the more the better"

Debunked: Oysters contain zinc (which helps sperm production), but eating too many can lead to heavy metal excess; kidneys (animal kidneys) contain high cholesterol and may also have "heavy metal accumulation," and excessive consumption can harm the kidneys and impair sperm quality.

Case: 29-year-old Xiao Zhang ate 20 oysters every day. After one month, a semen test showed his sperm malformation rate had risen from 15% to 25%. The doctor told him to stop eating them, and only then did the malformation rate decrease.

Correct approach: A balanced diet is more effective: one egg + 200 ml of milk daily (to supplement protein), eat oysters twice a week (5–6 each time) or lean beef (to supplement zinc), eat more spinach and oranges (to supplement vitamins), and don’t rely on "aggressively supplementing with a single food."

Myth 4: "Abstinence can accumulate good sperm; the less frequent the intercourse, the better"

Debunked: Sperm survive in the body for about 7–10 days. Abstaining for more than 7 days increases the proportion of aged sperm and reduces motility; abstaining too briefly (for example, daily intercourse) lowers sperm concentration. Both are unfavorable for conception.

Scientific frequency: During preconception, have intercourse 2–3 times per week (during the ovulation period, every other day). This ensures sperm remain fresh and motile while increasing the probability of pregnancy.

Case: Mr. Wang, 32, thought “abstaining for one month would build up better sperm.” He had intercourse during ovulation, but semen analysis showed 40% aged sperm and he did not conceive. He succeeded only after adjusting the frequency.

Myth 5: “The harder you exercise, the better the sperm quality”

Debunked: Moderate exercise (such as brisk walking or light jogging) can improve blood circulation and is good for sperm, but "high-intensity exercise" (for example running 10 km daily or heavy weightlifting) can cause excessive physical fatigue, which instead leads to reduced sperm motility and increased rates of abnormalities.

Mechanism: During excessive exercise, the body secretes "cortisol" (the stress hormone), which suppresses testosterone production (testosterone is the key hormone for sperm production).

Correct approach: Men should briskly walk 30 minutes daily, or run 3 times per week (5 km each time); gentle exercise is sufficient—there is no need to pursue "high intensity."

Three core things for men trying to conceive that are more effective than anything else

Don't stay up late: go to bed before 23:00 every day and ensure 7 hours of sleep — staying up late can reduce sperm motility by 20%, it is an "invisible sperm killer";

Quit smoking and drinking: smoking can increase the sperm malformation rate by 30%, alcohol can affect sperm DNA integrity, must quit in the 3 months before trying to conceive;

Avoid high temperatures and chemicals: minimize exposure to pesticides and paint (chemicals harm sperm), avoid frequent hot-spring bathing (prolonged high temperatures), avoid prolonged sitting (stand up and walk for 5 minutes every hour to improve scrotal blood circulation).

Finally, a message to couples trying to conceive: preparing for pregnancy is not only a woman's job — men should not be "hands-off," nor be misled by rumors into pointless measures. As long as men do "semen testing + regulate sleep routine + eat a balanced diet" and women do ovulation monitoring, the chances of success will greatly increase. If you have been trying for more than 1 year without conceiving, don't only have the woman tested — take the husband to a andrology clinic for evaluation promptly — in many cases, once the problem is resolved, the baby will come quickly!