If you are a man whose partner has been struggling to conceive, this article is for you. Not to alarm you. Not to challenge your sense of self. But to give you the factual information that you deserve and that your partner needs you to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Male factor contributes to infertility in approximately 40 percent of couples. That is not a small minority. It is almost half of all couples who seek fertility treatment. And yet, in many Indian families, the investigation of infertility begins and sometimes ends with the female partner. The man goes for a semen analysis, often reluctantly, and if the first result appears ‘roughly normal’ or ‘borderline’, the investigation is concluded and focus shifts entirely to his partner. This is a mistake that costs couples months or years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The semen analysis needs to be interpreted carefully. Reference values for ‘normal’ sperm parameters have been revised down in recent years \u2014 previous thresholds were based on fertile populations and were too generous. A result that falls in the low-normal range may still represent a clinically significant contribution to a couple’s infertility. More importantly, a single semen analysis is not definitive: sperm parameters can vary significantly from one sample to the next, and a single borderline result should be confirmed with a repeat analysis before being dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sperm DNA fragmentation testing matters. Many men with apparently normal standard semen parameters \u2014 normal count, motility, and morphology \u2014 have elevated sperm DNA fragmentation. High DNA fragmentation impairs fertilisation, embryo development, and implantation. It is associated with higher miscarriage rates and poorer IVF outcomes. It is not detected by a standard semen analysis. Men who have contributed to unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or repeated failed IVF cycles despite good-quality embryos should have sperm DNA fragmentation tested as part of the investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Infertility is not a comment on your masculinity. The biology of sperm production is entirely separate from sexual function, desire, drive, or any of the things that define what it means to be a man in a relationship. Low sperm count is a medical condition \u2014 it is treated the same way as hypertension or anaemia \u2014 with investigation of the cause, and treatment of whatever is found. There is no shame in it. There is every reason to address it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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