Understanding the lived experiences of infertility amongst men

Abstract

Infertility has been described as one of the most distressing experiences in a person’s life. While one may assume that infertility is primarily a concern for women, this assumption is gender stereotypical and untrue. Previous studies support the idea that women experiencing more pronounced distress in the face of infertility may be influenced by societal norms dictating how men and women are conditioned to manage their emotions. The scientific understanding of the emotional consequences of male infertility is currently limited. Recent studies suggest that infertility affects men and women emotionally in nearly equal measure. Male-factor infertility appears to carry a greater societal stigma compared to other infertility diagnoses. Investigating the experience of male infertility will help identify men’s needs and this in turn will help professionals and society offer better support and relevant services to the male partner too. [excerpt]