June is Men’s Health Month, an opportunity to spotlight the unique health challenges men face—and to change the way we talk about them. One of the most overlooked and under-discussed topics in men’s health? Fertility. It’s time to bring it to the forefront.
As a fellowship-trained urologist specializing in sexual medicine and male fertility, I’ve witnessed firsthand how male reproductive health is too often sidelined in conversations around family-building. For far too long, male fertility has been treated as secondary or even invisible in the broader conversation around family-building. Not anymore.
According to the World Health Organization, one in six couples experiences infertility. Men contribute to nearly half of those cases, and in 20 to 30 percent, male factor is the sole cause. Despite this, men are often left out of the fertility workup and treatment plan entirely. It’s time to change that narrative. Let’s be clear: Male infertility is not a personal failing—it’s a medical condition, and in some cases, an early warning sign of underlying health concerns such as hormonal imbalances, testicular disorders, or even chronic disease. Recognizing and addressing it can improve not only fertility but also overall health and well-being. It’s time we normalize talking about it, diagnosing it, and treating it.
A comprehensive approach to male fertility care includes everything from pre-conception counseling to procedures like microscopic varicocelectomy, vasectomy reversal, and sperm retrieval techniques such as microTESE. Hormonal therapies can help restore balance and preserve fertility. These are life-changing interventions that help men build families while supporting their physical, emotional, and relational health.