When Should We Start Looking For Fertility Help?
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In the fertility medicine world, it is indicated to get an evaluation (for both you and your partner) after one year of actively trying for a pregnancy (aka one year of unprotected sex). That being said, it does not necessarily mean that you need to wait a whole year prior to going in to have a work up done, or to start taking action (like having a semen analysis, or starting a fertility supplement). There are many patients that get fertility evaluations even before trying for a pregnancy, or well before the one year mark arrives, for various reasons.
That being said - having problems achieving pregnancy is not an uncommon situation to be in. 15% of couples don’t achieve pregnancy after their first year of trying - which is not a low number. 30-50 million couples globally per year have issues with fertility. Therefore, it is important to consider a fertility evaluation for both partners to know what your options are.
Of these couples having issues with fertility, there is male factor involvement about 50% of the time, and 30% of the time it is solely due to the male.
There are many things that could contribute to male infertility. This can include testicular injury or damage, congenital issues, an obstruction in the tube that carries the sperm (vas deferens), or in the tubules that make the sperm (seminiferous tubules), or hormonal abnormalities - all or any of which can cause issues with the sperm themselves (like the total number, movement, or shape of sperm). Men can also have DNA damage of the sperm (sperm DNA fragmentation), erectile issues, ejaculatory issues, or semen volume issues.
The important thing to note when a couple is having issues with fertility is that it is no one’s fault. There is usually nothing that one could have done to prevent this. As difficult as it is, it is imperative to try and appreciate this because it can be an extremely stressful and emotional time for both partners, and there can be quite a bit of shame and guilt associated with the inability to get pregnant. It is normal to feel these feelings, but important to know that they are due to no fault of anyone - and to know that fertility specialists are ready and able to help you through this.
*This post is for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as medical advice. If you have personal medical questions, consult with your personal physician*