If you spend enough time engaging with social media, you will inevitably come across a meme that makes light of the perils of being a woman and finds a humorous connection to their male counterparts. It goes something like this:
MENstruation. MENopause. MENtal breakdowns. Notice how all women’s problems begin with MEN.
It’s good for a chuckle and a share, but that’s about it. However, if you scratch beneath the surface of this meme, there is an underlying issue that applies to infertility: the reproductive health of men plays a large role in the ability of couples to conceive. While infertility is often thought of as a women’s issue, it truly takes two to tango when it comes to the challenge of conceiving.
What the Headlines Say
This issue is no longer going unnoticed. Many recent stories have touched on issues of male infertility, poor sperm health, and the factors that contribute to these reproductive issues:
- Male Infertility Will Be Ignored as Long as Conception is Seen as a Women’s Issue: Explores the findings of The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s 2014-2016 report, which reveals that male infertility is the most common reason for British couples seeking IVF.
- The Western World’s Dwindling Sperm Count Has Impacts Beyond Male Infertility: Sperm counts in Western nations have dropped as much as fifty percent over the past four decades, leading to health issues that go beyond fewer babies being born.
- Why Male Fertility Is In Crisis: Sperm counts are continuing to fall, but scientists and academics are unsure of why.
- Male Infertility: Why Are Sperm Counts Around The World Falling Drastically?: It is estimated that the issue of male infertility is affecting as many as one in six couples worldwide.
- Prenatal Exposure to Plasticizer May Affect Male Fertility In Future Generations: Chemicals from routine household products could be contributing to the dropping sperm counts being observed throughout the western world.
Our Approach to Male Fertility
At the Center for Reproductive Medicine, we are no strangers to the issue of male fertility. We work to remain at the forefront of advancing science in this area and partner with couples to determine their options and pursue solutions.
In fact, we recommend that couples pursue a relatively simple semen analysis before investing in complicated fertility treatments. A semen analysis measures four variables that can play a role in male fertility:
- Volume: How much semen is produced?
- Concentration: The number of sperm per millimeter in the sample.
- Motility: How well are the sperm moving?
- Morphology: The shape of the sperm. High percentage of abnormally-shaped sperm can threaten fertility.
Facing the possibility of infertility can be just as fear-inducing and emotionally taxing for men as it is for women. It is crucial for men to have the support of their partner as they go through testing, just as it is important for men to support women who are going through fertility testing and IVF treatments.
In addition to support from a spouse or partner, you will have the support of the proven team at the Center for Reproductive Medicine. Schedule your new patient appointment.
