Written by Jessica Hobbis. Reviewed by Jenny Wordsworth. 

The Problems: Where We Are Failing in Men’s Health

The Male Fertility Crisis

Birth patterns in England and Wales are changing: people are starting families later and having fewer children. In 2024, there were 594,677 live births, and the total fertility rate fell to 1.41, the lowest since records began. These demographic shifts underline the importance of effective preconception care and timely fertility assessment. 

The NHS defines infertility as when a couple cannot conceive despite having regular unprotected sex. The state of play in the UK is that infertility touches 1 in 7 couples. Conception is a team sport, and the male factor plays a significant role. NICE estimates that roughly 30% of infertility cases are due to the male factor alone, and roughly 40% involve both partners. Sperm health is rapidly declining, with a major meta-analysis of 223 studies covering over 57,000 men, finding that sperm concentration declined by over 50%, with this decline accelerating post-2000. Further, male health at and before conception influences not only the chance of pregnancy but also early pregnancy health. Findings include a recent 2025 paper, highlighting male obesity as a potential risk factor for fertility concerns, but also for pregnancy loss. These figures show the absolute need to address male health and fertility, via open conversations, research and clinical policies. 

Silence is louder than words

Male infertility is not just medical, and infertility has been tied to ideas of masculinity and identity itself. Stigma and shame surrounding this have meant that male fertility is something that so few people are willing to discuss, be it men themselves or the clinicians who are assisting them. A 2022 global questionnaire of over 1000 men highlighted that many men felt like passengers in their own fertility journey, perceiving their role to be secondary rather than necessary. This extends to clinicians, with men being neglected from fertility research and treatments, despite the prominence of male factor infertility. 

How We Move Towards Solving These Issues:

Launching OVUM Time to Conceive® for Men!

It takes nearly 3 months to produce mature sperm, a process called ‘spermatogenesis’, so we recommend taking the product for at least this long. Spermatogenesis happens inside the seminiferous tubules, tiny coiled tubes that sit inside the testes. Stem cells called spermatogonia mature step by step into spermatozoa with help from Sertoli cells, and a very high local level of testosterone made by Leydig cells. 

Once sperm are formed inside the testes, they are not yet ready to fertilise an egg, so they move into a long tube called the epididymis, which sits along the back of each testis. Sperm mature here for 2-15 days more before they can swim to and fertilise the egg. This is why meaningful change in sperm health usually shows up after about 10 to 12 weeks, and exactly why we created a preconception supplement designed to optimise sperm health during this crucial time. 

With male infertility proving to be so pervasive and so little being done to combat this, OVUM was determined to bring a product to market that could effect real change. However, genuine care takes time, effort and collaboration, which is why this product has taken over 2 years of research and development, utilising over 120 clinical studies to ground it in the latest science. As OVUM CEO Jenny explains, “With sperm health rapidly declining, we knew we had to create a product that was grounded in science and expertise to address this growing concern and highlight that fertility is a shared issue, not one women should carry alone.” This is why, when formulating Time to Conceive® for Men, OVUM’s CEO, Jenny, enlisted the help of leading fertility nutritionist Melanie Brown, alongside IVF Doctors and our own Chief Medical Officer, to ensure we created a leading fertility supplement that would be recommended on patient protocols in IVF clinics across the UK. Which is why we are proud to finally announce the launch of OVUM Time to Conceive® for Men. 

The result of all this work? A high-quality supplement, containing clinically-backed doses of key nutrients required to support sperm concentration, morphology and motility and optimise hormonal health. This includes our patented form of MicroActive CoQ10®, as well as both the tartrate form of L-carnitine and Acetyl-L-carnitine for optimal bioavailability and absorption. CoQ10 is essential for energy production in sperm, and Carnitines, labelled as the ‘super supplements’ for sperm health, are both core parts of our formulation. Altogether, we have included 14 nutrients, and you can read more about what’s included and why by checking out our product page here. 

Pairing science with education: Professor Ramsay’s inspiring discussion on male infertility

OVUM is incredibly passionate about supporting people beyond the science, to include education, community, and care in all that we do. This is why our launch for OVUM Time to Conceive® for Men was unlike any other launch. We brought together over 50 IVF Doctors, urologists, nutritionists, acupuncturists, preeminent fertility experts and leading voices in the space at the Royal Society of Medicine, London. OVUM was honoured to host Professor Jonathan Ramsay, one of the UK’s leading urologists and male fertility specialists, to deliver the keynote talk for the evening. This led to an open discussion on the male fertility crisis, which involved everyone in the room and truly blew us away. Here’s a few key points from the discussion: 

• Professor Ramsay reinforced the need to address the rapidly declining fertility rates among men. He highlighted that the 50% decline in sperm count over the last 50 years was coupled with declining sperm quality metrics and therefore required immediate attention and action. 

• Sperm health is a greater reflection of men’s general health and longevity. Men with poorer semen quality have been shown to often face higher risks of disease, highlighting the need to address men’s health now and as a whole, rather than later. 

• Hormone-disrupters were a significant conversation point, and while it can feel daunting when faced with the sheer scale of the daily exposures we now face, there are actions you can take. Reducing plastic exposure through Tupperware, cooking utensils, and choosing organic when you can are steps we can all take to limit our exposure. 

• Professor Ramsay and the following discussion critiqued the NICE Guidelines for their positioning IVF/ICSI as the recommended route for couples with male-factor infertility The core point was that IVF/ICSI should not be treated as a universal solution or default for all male-factor cases. Instead, the room felt that men should first receive appropriate investigations and evidence-based interventions that may improve natural conception or reduce the need for invasive treatment. 

Where to get additional support in the UK

Your GP (first stop): arrange initial blood tests and NHS semen analysis; fast-track referral if there are red flags. 

HFEA-licensed fertility clinics: specialist andrology/urology input and assisted conception; the HFEA website lists clinics and success-rate data to help you choose.

NHS Stop Smoking Services: structured support to stop smoking, vaping or snus/nicotine pouches; safer and more effective than going it alone.

NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT): evidence-based help for stress, anxiety and low mood during fertility care; self-referral available in most areas.

Registered nutritionist / NHS Weight Management: tailored advice on weight loss, protein, and cardiometabolic risk, especially helpful if BMI is high or you have diabetes.

Occupational health: if you work with heat, pesticides, solvents, metals or PFAS, they can assess exposure and adjust workplace controls.

Fertility preservation (cancer care): ask your team about sperm banking before treatment if chemotherapy, radiotherapy or androgen-deprivation therapy is planned.

Charities: Such as Tommy’s (for baby loss) and Fertility Network UK. These provide support for those experiencing fertility challenges and offer a wealth of resources and additional help. 

Key Takeaways

• The male fertility crisis is real, and despite being hidden in the shadows for now, it is time that we face this issue head-on. 

• OVUM Time to Conceive® for Men was created to address this very issue, collaborating with leading figures in the fertility space to develop an evidence-backed supplement to supercharge sperm health. 

• Professor Ramsay’s keynote presentation highlighted that there are clinicians and health professionals who truly care about male fertility and recognise its importance. OVUM is passionate about bringing these voices together and amplifying them to connect more people to the very best in the field of fertility.