There are no longer couples who cannot have a child. Even when the man’s problem is considered very serious, various methods used in in vitro fertilization today can offer a solution.
Approximately 15% of couples trying to conceive face difficulties. Although it was once believed that women were mainly responsible, it is now known that in about half of the cases the problem is due to male factors.
Therefore, any assessment of a couple’s infertility must also include a thorough evaluation of the man. It is important to understand that infertility is a couple’s issue and should be approached as such.
Men are often surprised to learn that infertility affects them just as often as it affects women—sometimes even more frequently.
In many cases, male infertility may not simply be a problem of reproductive function but an indication of a broader health issue. For example, abnormalities in a semen sample may be the first signs of testicular cancer, or in some cases, poor-quality sperm may later lead to bone or muscle dysfunction.
