Psychological Impacts of Male Infertility

Did you know that infertility is equally as common in men as it is in women? If you said no, I am not surprised. Our culture tends to paint infertility as more of a women’s issue, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Men and women each account for one-third of infertility cases in the US, while the final third is made up of cases of “unexplained infertility”.

There are plenty of things a man can do to enhance his fertility physically, but what about the mental and emotional effects?

Self-blame

A man’s inherent desire to procreate is tied to his sense of identity. Having this ability called into question can cause him to feel lost, and view himself as some sort of failure. Feeling as though he’s failed at something that seems so integral to a man’s biological imperative can lead him to feel lost, worthless, and even depressed. Many men will be wrought with anxiety, and blame themselves for putting their relationship through such a difficult situation.

It is important that men find a way to express these feelings, and not suffer in silence. There are many online support forums and in-person groups out there, full of people that are having the exact same experience.

Sexual Health

Although they’re in the same ballpark, an infertility diagnosis will not alone have a negative effect on a man’s sexual health. But the psychological effect of this diagnosis can be a different story.

Being diagnosed with infertility can cause a man feelings of lost masculinity and general lack of self-confidence and . It plants a seed of doubt that can quickly grow until its affecting other areas of life, sometimes causing erectile dysfunction; two words no man ever wants to hear.

One of your best weapons in the fight against infertility is confidence, and a positive outlook. Studies have shown that a man’s ability to get an erection is directly tied to his level of self-confidence, so if your partner is suffering from erectile dysfunction in response to his infertility diagnosis, you’ll want to find a quick and painless fix. Fortunately, new men’s health brands like Hims provide access to generic forms of viagra online, making it easy for men to regain confidence and move forward.

Relationship Stress

An infertility diagnosis can certainly put a lot of stress on a relationship. Especially for those who have been hoping to start a family for a long time. What makes it worse is the fact that most men don’t like to talk about their infertility, often choosing to let their pride prevent them from seeking the proper treatment. This pride, mixed with the aforementioned self-blame, can have a negative effect on a couple’s ability to properly communicate, and cause feelings of isolation.

If you feel like this is happening to your partner, if is important to let them know that they are not alone. 1 in 6 couples in the country deal with infertility, and there’s no reason to go through it alone. Learn the facts, arm yourself with knowledge, and you can face infertility together.

Every couple walks a different road towards pregnancy; some having a more difficult time than others. But an infertility diagnosis is not the end of the road. In addition to treatments and lifestyle changes that can help, there are plenty of other options available to those couples trying to become parents. Don’t lose faith. Don’t lose hope. Don’t give up.

This was a guest post written by Jack, and advocate for men’s health. We appreciate his take on the impacts that infertility can have on men. It is something we wish to educate everyone on and not have infertility be such a taboo topic.

The more we all know and the more we get out in the open, the more that can be done to eliminate infertility problems. To learn more about the factors that can impact male fertility, check out our other post.

If you’re struggling with handing the stress of infertility out, whether your male or female, it may be time that you check out the ebook, Infertility is a Diagnosis not a Definition.