Andrology and Infertility: Including a male partner in the conversation

Everyone knows the word ‘gynecology.’ How often do we talk about andrology?

Male infertility can feel like the elephant in the room. But in cases of infertility, the male factor is found to be the root cause as often as the female factor: one third of cases are due to female infertility, one third are due to male infertility, and one third are either unknown or a combination of both partners. Still, doctors don’t refer men to urologists for testing, which means the male factor often remains overlooked.

Since approximately 1 in 8 couples have issues with infertility, we need to normalize male infertility. That starts from an understanding of the physiological issues – including erectile dysfunction, or sperm mobility, volume and quality. Resolve.org – the website of the National Infertility Association – is a great all-around resource in this space.

Learning about physiology is a great start. But there’s often a deep-seated emotional component at play. If you and your partner are struggling to conceive, it can be distressing to be deemed the infertile partner. Anxiety around getting tested often runs so high that many people choose to avoid it – even after one partner has already gone through testing and been deemed fertile – introducing a new roadblock into the journey and tension into the relationship.

If you or your partner is experiencing this anxiety – either in anticipation of, or response to, a diagnosis – therapy can help get at the root of negative beliefs. 

So, as a reproductive mental health specialist, in addition to raising awareness, I want to offer to join with you as an individual and to help work through these thoughts and feelings, as well as potentially work with you as a couple to navigate your fertility journey.