ASRM ABSTRACTS: Full fat dairy is bad for sperm

This is one of a series of news items from abstracts of studies presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as complied by Dr. David Meldrum, Scientific Director of Reproductive Partners. We appreciate the enormous amount of work it takes to compile and comment on these abstracts.


Full fat dairy intake in active young men was inversely associated with sperm morphology (shape). This is important to fertility potential as an abnormally shaped sperm is less likely to be able to fertilize an egg.

This unfavorable health habit could be simply correlated with other dietary factors. For example, men in the upper third of intake of omega-3’s had 1.9% higher strict morphology compared to men in the lower third of intake. We recommend reducing dietary saturated fat and boosting intake of omega-3’s for all men pursuing fertility. In fact it’s a good idea for all men since it promotes general health as well.