Table of Contents
- Male fertility Myths 1: Infertility is a woman's problem
- Male fertility Myths 2: Age doesn't affect male fertility
- Male fertility Myths 3: Obesity doesn’t affect sperm quality
- Male fertility Myths 4: A semen analysis tells you everything
- Male fertility Myths 5: Male fertility problems can't be treated
- When to Seek Help
- References
- FAQs
June is Men's Health Awareness Month. It's a good time to focus on an area of men's health that affects far more men the most, and is often overlooked - fertility, otherwise known as sperm health. Social media fills knowledge gaps quickly and incorrectly for the most part. A 2020 analysis found that 44% of articles about male fertility on social platforms contained misleading or inaccurate information. Men could correctly identify only 51% of known risk factors for male infertility. That's a real problem. There are five male fertility myths that need to be addressed.
Male fertility Myths 1: Infertility is a woman's problem
When a couple struggles to conceive, the woman is almost always blamed and tested first. The statistics tell us a completely different story.
According to StatPearls via the National Institutes of Health (NIH), male factors are the sole cause of infertility in roughly 20–30% of cases and contribute to another 30–40%. That means male infertility plays a role in close to half of all cases. The WHO reported in 2023 that roughly 1 in 6 people globally experience infertility - and men are part of that figure at comparable rates to women.
Getting men checked earlier matters beyond the ability to conceive a baby alone. A fertility evaluation can uncover hormonal imbalances, varicoceles (enlarged veins in the scrotum), or early signs of other health conditions.
Male fertility Myths 2: Age doesn't affect male fertility
Women are told their biological clock is ticking. Men, not so much. But the assumption that male fertility is indefinite is wrong.
A 2025 study in Frontiers in Aging found that sperm DNA integrity - which affects embryo quality - also showed a marked drop in men over 40. Another study found conception was 30% less likely for men over 40 compared to men under 30.
A 2024 study analysed over 2,500 men and found that sperm motility and normal morphology (shape) declined significantly after age 40, independent of other health variables.
Older men can and do father children. But age is not irrelevant.
Male fertility Myths 3: Obesity doesn’t affect sperm quality
Fitness and fertility don't always track together. A 2024 meta-analysis in Andrology (Wiley) found that men with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or above had reductions across all standard sperm parameters - count, motility, morphology, and volume. Severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40) was linked to up to a three-fold increased risk of low sperm concentration.
Smoking is equally relevant. The ASRM's (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) 2023 guidelines report that sperm concentration in smokers averages 22% lower than in non-smokers, with the effect worsening the more a person smokes. The ASRM recommends that all men planning to conceive seriously consider quitting tobacco.
The encouraging part: sperm renews roughly every 64–74 days. Lifestyle changes - quitting smoking, losing excess weight - can improve results over a three-month period.
Male fertility Myths 4: A semen analysis tells you everything
A semen analysis is recommended as an important and useful first step. It measures sperm count, motility, and morphology. But it doesn't capture the full picture.
A thorough male fertility workup can also include hormone testing, physical examination for varicoceles, scrotal ultrasound, and sperm DNA fragmentation analysis. Varicocele - one of the most common, treatable causes of male infertility - is often missed on physical exams but detected on ultrasound. The WHO included sperm DNA fragmentation analysis in its 2021 laboratory guidelines as an extended test of sperm quality, something a standard semen analysis doesn't cover.
A normal result can be reassuring, but it doesn't rule out other unidentified issues if you are still having trouble conceiving.
Male fertility Myths 5: Male fertility problems can't be treated
This assumption stops many men from seeking help. It's inaccurate and should not stop men from seeking medical advice on next steps.
Many causes of male infertility are treatable. Varicocele repair has been shown to improve sperm parameters and pregnancy rates. Hormonal imbalances can often be corrected medically. Lifestyle changes genuinely shift sperm quality. Where natural conception is difficult, assisted reproductive technologies - IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) - remain options. Getting a full medical assessment and diagnosis means that the causes can often be treated and managed. The earlier the better.
Why Male Fertility Deserves More Attention
Male fertility is often treated as a separate issue from overall health, but the two are closely connected. Poor sperm quality may sometimes be an early indicator of broader health concerns. Conditions such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, hormonal disorders, and cardiovascular disease have all been associated with reduced fertility in men.
In some cases, fertility testing is the first step that leads to the diagnosis of an underlying medical condition that may otherwise have gone unnoticed. This is one reason fertility specialists often take a comprehensive health history rather than focusing only on reproduction.
There is also a significant emotional impact. Fertility challenges can affect confidence, relationships, mental wellbeing, and quality of life. Yet many men delay seeking advice because they assume fertility problems are uncommon, untreatable, or unrelated to them. The reality is that male fertility issues are common, medical assessment is straightforward, and many causes can be improved through treatment or lifestyle changes.
Debunking male fertility myths and understanding the facts allow men to make informed decisions earlier. Whether the goal is starting a family now or preserving fertility options for the future, awareness remains one of the most effective tools for protecting reproductive health.
When to Seek Help
Standard guidance is to see a doctor after 12 months of regular unprotected sex without conception, or after 6 months if the female partner is over 35. But if you have known risk factors - obesity, smoking, a history of testicular problems - there's no reason to wait that long.
If you want a clearer picture before sitting down with a specialist, Sapyen's Advanced Home Semen Analysis lets you check key sperm parameters privately and conveniently - a practical first step toward understanding where things stand.
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Fertility isn't only a conversation for women. Men's Health Week is a fair reminder that your reproductive health is part of your overall health.
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7502321/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10187739/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-024-07448-8
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging/articles/10.3389/fragi.2025.1603916/full
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10920089/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/andr.13460
- https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/tobacco-or-marijuana-use/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10619690/
FAQs
Should fertility testing be done before trying for a baby?
Not always, but men with known risk factors such as previous testicular problems, cancer treatment, varicocele, or fertility concerns may benefit from earlier testing.
