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Fat, Alcohol & Other Sperm Killers: How Your Choices Affect Conception

1 min read

Christopher A. Brown
Christopher A. Brown Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts.

Trying to have your first child or another one? Think twice before you eat that juicy bacon cheeseburger. 

baconcheeseburger

Research reveals that what men eat affects their ability to conceive.

Researchers found that men with higher levels of saturated fat had a lower concentration of sperm and lower total sperm count in their semen.

The more saturated fat in the diet, the lower the concentration and count. A higher intake of saturated fat can lead to obesity, which can also lower sperm count. 

Want a beer with that burger? Think about that one, too. Alcohol use has been linked to lower sperm count. Not the occasional beer, glass of wine, or cocktail, but regular consumption (e.g., daily).   

Want to know what else affects the little guys? Check out these 10 proven "sperm killers".

Most of the posts in our blog focus on tips and advice on how to be a great dad. But what if you never get the chance to apply this guidance? What if you never get the chance to become a father?

image: iStockPhoto

Date Published: 10/21/2013

Last Updated: 02/04/2026

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