By: Karissa Cressley

Doug Murphy did not set out to launch a business. He was trying to start a family. After several months of unsuccessful attempts and watching his wife shoulder the emotional toll, he took a sperm test. The result, 50 percentile, was within the typical range but not optimal.

This led to some changes in Murphy’s routine. He made adjustments to his diet, limited certain habits, and made a few lifestyle tweaks. A couple of months later, things had improved, and the couple was able to conceive.

But Murphy found that most boxers were uncomfortable and lacked the support he wanted. When he could not find a product designed for both comfort and sperm health, he decided to create one. That became the foundation of Fertile Fruit, a direct-to-consumer brand offering apparel and fertility education rooted in scientific insights.

Fertile Fruit launched its e-commerce platform in April 2025, starting with its flagship product: underwear designed to promote healthy testicular temperature. The company’s broader goal is to establish itself as a key player in the male fertility category in 2025 by combining research-informed design with proactive education.

Bridging Medical Insight to a Consumer Product

Male fertility remains an often-overlooked topic in consumer wellness. Elevated scrotal temperature has been associated with reduced sperm count and motility. This is supported by a 2018 study published by Harvard researchers, which suggests that men who wore loose-fitting underwear had sperm concentrations 25 percent higher than those who wore tighter styles such as briefs.

Murphy used this data as a starting point for product development. Over the course of a year, he worked with design consultants to create a garment that would feel like a modern boxer brief but offer a looser front panel to help maintain a healthier testicular temperature.

Fertile Fruit’s underwear features compression around the thighs for support and movement, while its breathable pouch is designed to minimize direct pressure or heat retention in the groin. The fabric is organic and chosen specifically for its cooling properties. The product combines science-backed design with everyday usability, a key differentiator in a category that Murphy says was largely unexplored before.

“This is a new approach to product design,” Murphy remarks. “There were very few options on the market designed to address sperm health through what men wear every day.”

A Platform, Not Just a Product

Fertile Fruit positions itself not only as an apparel brand but as an education-driven platform for men preparing for fatherhood. With its launch, the company’s website will include accessible, research-backed articles about sperm maturation, heat exposure, and lifestyle behaviors that may improve fertility outcomes. The goal is to reach men before they face months or years of emotional and financial strain.

“It takes three months for sperm to mature,” Murphy said. “If men understand that and take action early, it could potentially help couples reduce unnecessary stress.”

Fertile Fruit speaks to both men and women, recognizing that fertility is a shared journey. Many early buyers, Murphy anticipates, will be women looking for thoughtful, practical ways to engage their partners in the process. The brand embraces this dynamic with a tone that encourages partnership, focusing on empowerment and support rather than assigning blame.

Redefining the Male Role in Fertility

The emotional core of Fertile Fruit’s mission remains tied to Murphy’s experience of watching his wife carry the emotional weight of infertility, which helped him recognize a cultural gap: women are often encouraged to prepare their bodies for pregnancy months in advance, while men are rarely included in that process.

By designing a product grounded in science and building a platform focused on responsibility and education, Fertile Fruit addresses this imbalance. It offers men a way to participate early, not only as partners but as active participants in conception.

Murphy is not marketing a quick fix. He is introducing a change that helped his family and may help others. With a product that feels familiar and a message that feels overdue, Fertile Fruit enters the fertility space with a clear vision for growth, impact, and contributing to category leadership.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or investment advice. The claims made about fertility, product effectiveness, and lifestyle changes should be discussed with a healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding fertility treatment, wellness practices, or product usage.

Published by Jeremy S.