Preparing to try for a baby: What sperm-producing people need to know

Deciding to try for a baby involves a lot more than reworking your budget or rearranging your living space. One of the most useful things you can do early on is make sure you are in the best health possible, and that you have a clear picture of any factors that could affect your path to parenthood.

From semen analysis to genetic carrier testing, there are a number of medical assessments that can help you get ahead of potential challenges and feel more prepared when you're ready to start trying. Getting information early gives you more options.

Here's what sperm-producing people need to know about the steps worth taking as you prepare, and testing options before trying for a baby. If you’ll be carrying the baby, see our full guide on how to prepare for pregnancy.

Key takeaways

• Male factor infertility accounts for 30–50% of infertility cases, making sperm health an important part of preparation
• Lifestyle habits including alcohol, smoking, cannabis, sleep, exercise, and diet all affect sperm health and are worth addressing during the Premester, i.e. the 3–12 month window before pregnancy
• Practical preparation is worth starting early. Consider: finances, living situation, parenting conversations, and benefits
• Tests to consider before trying include a semen analysis, hormone testing, and genetic carrier screening
• Sperm freezing preserves sperm at its current quality and can be a useful backup if circumstances change or assisted reproductive technology (ART) is needed

Steps to take before trying for a baby

There are a number of ways you can prepare before trying for a baby to ensure the smoothest journey possible. 

Adopt a healthy lifestyle

The lifestyle choices you make in the months before trying to get pregnant can have a meaningful impact on both fertility and pregnancy outcomes for all genders. 

For everyone, the Premester (the 3–12 month window before pregnancy) is a good time to take stock of habits that affect fertility: alcohol intake, smoking, cannabis use, sleep, exercise, and diet. Small, consistent lifestyle changes over several months can meaningfully improve sperm health, plus overall reproductive function. 

Get your finances in order

The costs of having and raising a child are significant and wide-ranging, from prenatal care and delivery to ongoing childcare (which averages around $13,000 per year in the U.S.), education, and beyond. You don't need a complete financial plan before you start trying, but thinking through financial needs early gives you time to plan, save, and set realistic expectations.

Assess your living situation

If your current home feels tight, it's worth thinking through your space before pregnancy adds more complexity. A newborn can comfortably share a room with you in those early months, but as your child grows, your space needs will shift. Working through your living situation before you're expecting means one less major decision to make during an already demanding time.

Talk about parenting expectations

There's no single right way to parent, and your approach will likely evolve as you go. If you’ll be parenting with a partner, having honest conversations before you're in the thick of it can help you start from a place of alignment. Talk through how you'll divide caregiving, domestic work, and decision-making. Discuss what you want to carry forward from your own upbringing as well as what you'd do differently.

Those early months with a newborn are intense and often unpredictable. The more groundwork you lay now, the better equipped you'll be when things don't go according to plan — which, for most new parents, will likely happen at some point.

Understand your benefits

In the U.S., the average cost of childbirth under large insurance plans is around $20,000. This does not include the amount spent on health insurance premiums or extra bills incurred from out-of-network providers or non-medical procedures. Reviewing your coverage before you start trying gives you time to plan and avoid surprises. Find out when and how to add a newborn to your plan, since hospital care provided to the baby is billed separately from the parent's care.

It's also worth understanding your parental leave benefits. What percentage of your salary is covered? Does your employer offer leave to both parents, or only one? Your HR department can walk you through the details. If your employer offers a fertility or family-building benefit like Carrot, now is a good time to explore what's available to you.

Testing options before trying for a baby

Getting tested before you start trying gives you the opportunity to address any issues early, before time becomes a factor. Testing can also shape important decisions, such as when to start trying, whether to consider a sperm donor, and whether to pursue preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Here are the most common tests to consider.

Semen analysis

Fertility testing is often framed as something only the person carrying a pregnancy needs to think about. Male factor infertility accounts for as many as 30–50% of infertility cases, which means sperm health deserves the same attention.

A semen analysis is a simple, non-invasive test that provides a comprehensive picture of sperm health. It assesses:

• Volume — how much semen is produced per ejaculation
• Count and concentration — how many sperm are present
• Motility — how well the sperm are moving
• Morphology — whether the sperm are the right size and shape

If results indicate low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal morphology, your care provider can investigate possible causes and recommend next steps. Depending on what's found, that might mean lifestyle changes, medication, or a conversation about assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Semen analyses are available through fertility clinics, and at-home testing options have made the process more accessible in recent years. Talk to your care provider about what makes sense for your situation. If you’re a Carrot member, you can access semen analysis through our partnership with Legacy.

Who should consider getting a semen analysis?

Anyone can benefit from a semen analysis, whether you’re trying for pregnancy in the near or distant future. Early sperm testing can help you avoid costly and unnecessary tests or treatments later. 

Hormone testing

Testosterone is the hormone people associate most with male fertility, but it's part of a broader system. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) work alongside testosterone to regulate sperm production, sexual function, and sex drive. When any of these hormones are out of balance, it can affect fertility. Hormone testing (typically done through a simple blood draw) can reveal both the imbalance and any underlying condition contributing to it, such as genetic disorders, injuries, or even certain tumors.

Who should consider hormone testing?

Hormone testing is often recommended if a semen analysis comes back with abnormal results, or if you're experiencing symptoms of a hormonal imbalance such as low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, reduced body hair, or unexplained fatigue. It's also a reasonable step if you've been trying to get pregnant without success.

Genetic carrier screening

Carrier screening is a type of genetic testing that determines whether a person carries a gene variant for certain autosomal recessive conditions. Common conditions screened for include cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and fragile X syndrome, among others. 

Carrier screening helps to assess the risk of your future child inheriting a genetic disease so you can make informed decisions on how to move forward with a pregnancy — whether you choose to use IVF with PGT or donor materials, or continue with the pregnancy as originally planned.

Who should consider carrier screening?

People often opt for carrier screening when trying for pregnancy because they have a family history of a genetic condition or because they belong to an ethnic group with a higher risk of developing a genetic disease. However, carrier screening is recommended for everyone planning a pregnancy. Many people are carriers without knowing it.

Sperm freezing

Also known as cryopreservation, sperm freezing is worth considering even if your semen analysis results are normal. Preserving sperm at its current quality creates a backup if your circumstances change. 

If you do end up needing IUI or IVF, having frozen sperm available can simplify the process. Sperm freezing is also a practical option for anyone who may face future exposure to conditions that could affect sperm quality, such as certain medical treatments or occupational hazards.

Sperm freezing is available through fertility clinics and, increasingly, through at-home collection kits that allow you to collect and ship a sample for professional cryopreservation. Talk to your care provider or a fertility specialist about the fertility preservation option that best fits your situation.