Male Fertility: The Overlooked Factor with Ayla Barmmer, MS, RD

Fertility is often viewed as a women’s health issue, but research tells a different story. In this episode of the NTI PodTalk, Ayla Barmmer joins Dianne Koehler to explore the overlooked role of male fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and long-term child health.

With male factors contributing to nearly 50% of infertility cases, this conversation unpacks why men are frequently left out of the fertility equation, and what that means for couples trying to conceive.

Ayla shares her functional nutrition approach to preconception care, highlighting how oxidative stress, nutrient deficiencies, environmental toxins, and lifestyle habits directly impact sperm quality, DNA integrity, and reproductive outcomes. She also explains why standard semen analysis may not tell the full story, and what deeper markers of male fertility health should be considered.

Beyond conception, this episode dives into how both male and female preconception health influences placental development, pregnancy complications, miscarriage risk, and even a child’s long-term metabolic health.

Whether you’re a practitioner, a couple trying to conceive, or simply interested in optimizing health, this episode reframes fertility as a shared responsibility – and a powerful window into whole-body and generational health.

About Ayla Barmmer, MS, RD

Ayla Barmmer, MS, RDN, LDN, is the founder and CEO of FullWell, the only registered dietitian-founded and formulated reproductive health supplement brand that supports women and men at every stage. With 20+ years of experience in fertility nutrition, Ayla has taken an evidence-backed, foundational approach in developing the highest quality, effective, and thoroughly tested offering that clinicians and customers love, which has allowed her to build FullWell profitably from the start without venture backing. While currently on sabbatical from private practice, Ayla owns and operates Boston Functional Nutrition and co-founded the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy in 2018.

Connect with Ayla:

Ayla and Dianne discuss the overlooked role of male fertility:

1:30 – Ayla’s educational and professional background
11:37 – Why male fertility is poorly understood
17:34 – Factors affecting male fertility
22:50 – How to support reproductive health in men
27:42 – Men’s preconception health affects the health of the placenta
35:10 – Long term human health starts at preconception
40:14 – Ayla and Lily Nichol’s advanced training for practitioners
43:09 – Nutrients to support male fertility
45:34 – Connect with Ayla and Fullwell

More on male fertility and reproductive health:

Male Infertility – An Epidemic That’s Getting Very Little Media Coverage

The Link Between Endocrine Disruptors and the Fertility Crisis

Dude’s Foods: Nutrition to Support Healthy Testosterone in Men

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This discussion is not intended to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy, nor in any way imply that Nutrition Therapists who graduate from NTI are qualified to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy. The scope of practice for graduates of NTI is to deliver therapeutic nutrition guidance to our clients which helps support their natural biology to achieve optimal function in whatever wellness path they are on.