From Sperm to Placenta: The Hidden Role of Male Fertility in Pregnancy Outcomes

ByTarin Hussain
Updated: 24 Nov 2025, 9:30 pm
Medical Reviewed by Dr. Savitha Shetty

When couples struggle to conceive or maintain a pregnancy, the focus usually falls on the woman’s body. But the man’s reproductive health is just as important and plays a key role in how male fertility affects pregnancy outcomes. Understanding this helps both partners take practical steps for better results.

Pregatips.com
When people talk about getting pregnant, they mostly immediately think about the woman’s body, her ovulation, her health, or her lifestyle. But the truth is, men play a huge role too, even if it’s not talked about much. Knowing how male fertility affects pregnancy outcomes is important because sperm quality can influence the entire journey. Its movement, shape, and DNA quality all influence the early stages of life.
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But there’s no need to stress. Many of the issues that cause delays in conception or increase the risk of pregnancy complications can be improved with simple lifestyle changes and proper medical guidance.

What Role Does Sperm DNA Play in Pregnancy?

Traditional semen analysis checks count, motility, and shape. If these appear normal, the male factor for infertility is often dismissed. But that’s not always true. Even if everything looks normal in a basic test, the sperm might still have hidden damage in their DNA.

Sperm also carry epigenetic markers. These are chemical tags that control how genes work during early development. They play a big role in how the placenta forms and how well it supports the baby. When these markers are affected by stress, smoking, or heat exposure, it can lead to problems with implantation or even cause early pregnancy loss.

This is why some couples experience infertility or miscarriages even when all their tests seem fine. The issue can be hidden inside the sperm DNA, something regular semen tests don’t show.

The Hidden Role of Sperm in Placental Development

The placenta is one of the most important parts of pregnancy. It’s the organ that grows inside your uterus and connects to your baby through the umbilical cord. It delivers oxygen and nutrients, clears waste, and produces hormones that keep the pregnancy going. In short, it’s your baby’s lifeline.

What many people overlook is that the placenta does not develop solely from the mother’s egg. It responds to signals from the father’s sperm as well. Research from Cornell University shows that the father’s genes actually have a stronger influence on how the placenta forms and functions. This means the quality of sperm directly influences how well the placenta forms and functions right from the start.

Higher quality sperm leads to better placental development. On the other hand, poor sperm quality, particularly with DNA damage, can hinder this process. The result might be a placenta that struggles to support the pregnancy fully.


How Male Fertility Affects Pregnancy Outcomes

This is how male infertility can influence pregnancy outcomes:

Preeclampsia and Premature Birth

Men with high sperm DNA fragmentation double the chances of preeclampsia in IVF pregnancies, according to a 2022 Lund University study. Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy condition that causes a dangerous rise in blood pressure and often leads to early delivery.

Researchers also noticed a link between sperm DNA damage and preterm birth. When the sperm’s genetic material is damaged, it can affect how the placenta forms and works. A weak placenta may not support the pregnancy well, which can lead to complications for both mother and baby.

Miscarriage and Fetal Growth Problems

Poor sperm quality doesn’t just make it harder to conceive; it can also raise the risk of miscarriage. When sperm DNA is damaged, it can interfere with early development, leading to pregnancy loss.

This damage can also cause foetal growth restriction, where the baby does not develop at the expected rate. This happens because of placental insufficiency. In many cases, these problems trace back to faulty genetic signals from the sperm.

Genetic and Developmental Concerns for the Baby

Sperm don’t just fertilise the egg; they carry more than half of your baby’s DNA. That means their quality directly shapes your child’s health from the very beginning. When sperm are damaged or their DNA is fragmented, the risk of birth defects and developmental problems increases.

Men who are older or have certain health conditions tend to have higher levels of DNA breakage in their sperm. This can affect how the baby’s genes are expressed and may even influence long-term health as the child grows.

Delays in Conception and Fertility Treatments

When sperm have low motility or abnormal morphology, it becomes harder for them to reach and fertilise the egg. Even if the sperm count looks normal, slow sperm can cause delays or make conception less likely.

In fertility treatments like IUI or IVF, sperm quality matters just as much. If the sperm are weak or not formed properly, it can lower the chances of success. This often means couples might need several cycles or more advanced methods to achieve pregnancy.

All of this shows how important male fertility really is, even though it often gets less attention. Sperm health plays a key role in both getting pregnant and keeping the pregnancy strong.

Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.

FAQs on From Sperm to Placenta: The Hidden Role of Male Fertility in Pregnancy Outcomes

  1. Which nutrients can help reduce sperm DNA fragmentation?
    Nutrients like CoQ10, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, and N-acetyl cysteine may reduce DNA fragmentation when used appropriately.
  2. When to seek medical treatment for infertility?
    Medical evaluation for infertility is recommended if you have been trying to conceive for 12 months without success (or 6 months if you're over 35).

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