It’s National Fertility Awareness week this week…1-5^th Nov 2021. The Fertility Network UK will focus each day on a different topic, covering Fertility Fairness, Him Fertility, Fertility Education, Donor Day and Talk Fertility. I want to focus on the fellas this month and will do each week throughout November. Men don’t often get a mention when we talk fertility. Yet they are an absolute necessity in the process of creating a new life. I have many women contact me about Reproductive Reflexology and as soon as I mention bringing their chaps along too, I never hear from them again…Why is this…?? Infertility is not just a female issue. Men account for around half of all infertility difficulties. Sperm counts have more than halved over the last 40 years. According to a recent study, the percentage of men who are at risk of needing fertility treatment has almost doubled in the last decade. Male fertility depends on the body making normal sperm and delivering them to meet the egg and fertilise it. This system only works when genes, hormone levels and environmental factors are right. Making mature, healthy sperm that can travel depends on several factors. Sometimes cells don’t develop properly to create healthy, mobile sperm, sometimes the sperms’ ability to reach the egg is hindered. Even the temperature of the testicles is important.

Sperm Disorders – Male Fertility

A common cause of male infertility are sperm disorders. Difficulties can occur during the making and growing process. They might not grow fully, or be oddly shaped, there might not be enough produced, they may not move in the right direction, or sometimes may not be produced at all. There are several reasons why sperm might not be growing or functioning properly and there are lots of ways that these issues can be reversed and hugely improve the chances of a successful conception. Problems with male fertility can be impacted by various health issues and medical treatments. Varicoceles can develop at any age, they are caused by a swelling of the veins in the testicle and occur in @ 40% of men trying to conceive but often can be successfully treated. Other difficulties are infections that can interfere with sperm production or sperm health. Many infections can be treated and lead to successful conception. Other issues could relate to retrograde ejaculation, Anti-sperm antibodies, hormone imbalances, blockages, some medications. Overexposure to certain environmental elements such as heat, toxins and chemicals can reduce sperm production or sperm function. Lifestyle choices can also impact sperm quality and ability. Drug and alcohol use, smoking tobacco and weight can all have a negative influence on developing sperm.

Many Couples Struggling To Conceive

Many couples struggling to conceive have more than one cause of infertility, which is why it’s essential that both partners should seek medical advice, initially this would be via the GP. Men would need a baseline semen analysis to identify any potential issues that may be affecting their ability to conceive. Fertility treatment funded by the NHS varies across the UK. Waiting lists for treatment can be very long in some areas and the eligibility criteria can also vary. There are many private clinics that offer thorough assessments and treatment programs for both men and women, and many that have specialists in male reproduction. Let’s get talking, raise awareness and support men, they are half of the fertility equation and their experiences, thoughts and feelings matter equally.