Half of all fertility challenges involve the male partner, yet men remain largely absent from preconception care conversations.
Now, new research by Dr Nicole McPherson and her team at Adelaide University aims to change that – by placing fathers’ preconception health at the heart of a healthy pregnancy.
With a fresh grant from The Hospital Research Foundation Group (THRFG), Dr McPherson and her team are investigating male fertility, and how a father’s health and sperm health at the time of conception shapes embryo development and influences a child’s long-term health and wellbeing.
For decades, sperm were seen as passive carriers of DNA, but emerging science is overturning that view. We now know that sperm also carry tiny molecules that sit outside of DNA, which appear to play a powerful role in guiding how an embryo develops in its earliest days and may influence a child’s health for years to come.
A central focus of this THRFG-funded research is understanding how sperm contribute to the very first events at conception, from the moment of fertilisation through to the critical early stages of embryo development.
These earliest moments are increasingly understood to be shaped by what sperm bring to the equation beyond their genetic payload, and Dr McPherson’s team is working to uncover exactly how a father’s health, lifestyle and male infertility factors influence that process.
Critically, sperm quality and the molecules they carry are exquisitely sensitive to a man’s diet, weight, stress levels and environment, meaning that what a father does in the months before conception can have a real and meaningful impact on the outcome of a pregnancy and potentially on his child’s health for life.
“Our research challenges the long-held belief that fathers play a passive role in conception. What a man eats, how he lives, and how he feels in the lead-up to conception can matter deeply – for pregnancy outcomes and for the long-term health of his child,” Dr McPherson said.
With THRFG funding, Dr McPherson will explore practical ways to improve male fertility and sperm health for couples trying to conceive naturally.
A key focus of this will be the development of a fertility-friendly intimacy cream – a direct-to-consumer product designed to actively support sperm function and fertilisation.
Most commercially available lubricants are harmful to sperm, yet many couples use them during conception attempts without knowing this. This research aims to provide a safe, evidence-based alternative that couples can use at home.
“Real change happens when science meets everyday life. We want to create solutions that people can actually use, at home, from day one of their fertility journey,” Dr McPherson said.
The program also tackles a significant and largely overlooked gap in men’s fertility care. When men are diagnosed with infertility or trying to conceive, they often receive little guidance on what to do next and many turn to social media and online forums to fill that void.
Dr McPherson’s team will examine the quality and accuracy of information men are encountering in these spaces, helping to identify what better, more targeted support could look like.
Alongside this, Dr McPherson will work with Fertility SA, powered by Genea in South Australia, to co-design peer-led support programs and digital resources tailored specifically to men’s needs addressing both the practical and emotional dimensions of an infertility diagnosis.
“Studies show that men diagnosed with infertility often feel overlooked and unsupported. They want real information and practical steps they can take. Our goal is to make sure they have both,” said Dr McPherson.
By better understanding the role men play in conception and early pregnancy, this research has the potential to reshape male fertility and preconception health support for men care and improve the health of future generations in Australia and globally
