Why Men Needed to Be Included in the Fertility Treatment Process from the Start

Even now, there’s an assumption that female factor fertility is solely responsible when a couple is unable to conceive after a period of time on their own. Though it’s certainly possible that there is a female factor requiring treatment, by skipping the male partner and his potential fertility concerns, fertility specialists and patients alike are doing themselves zero favors. The impulse derives from centuries of ignoring male fertility and simply assuming that if conception isn’t achieved, then it’s because an issue is present in the female partner. However, in 2019, we know better.

We know that infertility diagnoses can be broken down among one-third female factor, one-third male factor, and one-third unexplained infertility. This means that men are statistically just as likely to be the reason conception isn’t achieved without medical intervention. This is why men need to be included in the fertility treatment process from the very beginning, the first appointment. If screening is needed, it should extend to the male partner, as should any personal or familial medical history questions. When this occurs, should a male factor issue exist, it can be treated right away instead of down the line after other treatments have failed. Time is often of the essence during fertility care, and disregarding the male partner can waste precious time.

How do we ensure that the male partner is included?

• During your first consultation with a fertility specialist, you should confirm that you’d like both partners to be part of any screening processes.
• The male partner should have his personal and family medical history information prepared for any questions. This should specifically include any previous groin injuries, spinal injuries, and/or cancer treatment that included radiation or chemotherapy.
• You can also request a semen analysis directly if there is a potential concern that male factor fertility is present.

We still have questions about male factor fertility. What can we do?
We encourage those with questions to consider scheduling a consultation with Washington Fertility Center. You can also visit our blog, where we have previously written about male fertility.