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Palak Dewaan: Could the Bacteria in Semen Affect Your Chances of Having a Baby?
Palak Dewaan/LinkedIn
Aug 15, 2026, 16:33

Palak Dewaan: Could the Bacteria in Semen Affect Your Chances of Having a Baby?

Palak Dewaan, OBGYN at RG Stone Urology and Laparoscopy Hospital, shared on LinkedIn:

“Could the bacteria in semen affect your chances of having a baby?

When we talk about fertility, the focus often falls on egg quality, ovulation, and the female reproductive tract.

But emerging research suggests we may need to look more closely at another factor: the male reproductive microbiome.

A recent study found that around 1 in 4 men in a fertility and recurrent pregnancy-loss cohort had an imbalance in the bacteria present in their semen. Among couples undergoing IVF/ICSI, those with this imbalance had a lower live-birth rate—57% compared with 85% in couples without the imbalance.

Why might this matter?

The semen microbiome may influence sperm motility, concentration, inflammation and DNA integrity. Earlier research has also found associations between certain bacterial profiles and poorer sperm parameters.

But there’s an important caveat: association does not equal causation. Semen microbiome testing is still an emerging area, and we don’t yet have enough evidence to recommend routine microbiome testing or antibiotics/probiotics for every man trying to conceive.

The bigger message?

Male fertility is more than just sperm count.

As research evolves, understanding sperm quality may increasingly involve looking beyond the microscope—and into the microbial environment surrounding the sperm.”

Title: Characterisation and comparison of semen microbiota and bacterial load in men with infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or proven fertility

Authors: Shahriar Mowla, Linda Farahani, Tharu Tharakan, Rhianna Davies, Gonçalo D S Correia, Yun S Lee, Samit Kundu, Shirin Khanjani, Emad Sindi, Raj Rai, Lesley Regan, Dalia Khalifa, Ralf Henkel, Suks Minhas, Waljit S Dhillo, Jara Ben Nagi, Phillip Bennett, David A MacIntyre, Channa N Jayasena

You can read the Full Article in Elife.

Palak Dewaan: Could the Bacteria in Semen Affect Your Chances of Having a Baby?

Title: Micromanagement: how the male reproductive microbiome shapes male fertility

Authors: Sohei Kuribayashi, Noopur Naik, Aaron W. Miller, Scott D. Lundy

You can read the Full Article in Fertility and Sterility.

Palak Dewaan: Could the Bacteria in Semen Affect Your Chances of Having a Baby?

Stay informed with the latest updates in fertility and reproductive medicine on Fertility News.

Aaron W. Miller Channa N Jayasena Fertility Fertility News Linda Farahani male fertility male reproductive microbiome Noopur Naik OBGYN Palak Dewaan reproductive health Reproductive Medicine Rhianna Davies Scott D. Lundy Shahriar Mowla Sohei Kuribayashi Tharu Tharakan Women’s Health
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