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Supporting men with fertility issues

More than half of young men feel pressure from society’s gender norms, believing they must "man up" when facing health challenges — particularly when they impact sexual function and fertility.

With multiple studies showing these harmful stereotypes can be a barrier to men seeking health support, it is essential to shape workplace support that really resonates with men.

A review published earlier this year in the American Journal of Men’s Health commented, “Men’s propensity for nondisclosure, rationality, objectivity, and the need for control in healthcare encounters are offered as explanatory notes for men’s reticence to ‘being’ helped.” 1

Another recent study pointed out that this reluctance to seek help also increases the risk of unhealthy “avoidance behaviours” such as substance misuse. 2

Male fertility coach Shaun Greenaway says, “This is particularly true of mental health issues and issues around sexual function and infertility, which some men perceive as signs of weakness, or something they must deal with privately.

Unhelpful attitudes

“These attitudes can also be a major barrier for men who are experiencing issues around sexual function and fertility, as these problems are often associated with feelings of emasculation and failure as a man.

Shaun says, That’s a problem for all of us, because huge numbers of men are affected by poor mental health, sexual dysfunction and infertility, and these issues often trigger a tsunami of mental health challenges which impact relationships at home and in the workplace.”

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is sometimes considered a problem of older age, and while the prevalence triples between the ages of 40 and 70,3 it can affect men of all ages.

ED and underlying health issues

One study found that a quarter of men newly diagnosed with ED are under the age of 40,4 while another attributed what researchers described as an “alarmingly high” rate of ED in men aged 18 to 35 to their regular use of pornography.5

Encouraging men to speak up and seek help is crucial as ED can undermine men’s self esteem, mental health and performance in the workplace.6

One global study reported, “ED poses a significant burden with respect to work productivity and health-related quality of life.” 7

Early intervention is essential as ED is most commonly caused by an underlying health condition.8 For instance, seven out of ten men will experience ED before any signs of angina,9 and men with erectile issues are at:

  • 43% higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
  • 34% increased chance of stroke
  • 33% risk of death from any cause.10

There is also increasing evidence of a link between ED and infertility associated with poor sperm quality.11

Dr Naveen Puri, Bupa UK Insurance, Medical Director says, “This underlines the importance of creating an environment where men are encouraged to raise health concerns and are made to feel comfortable dealing with issues such as ED and infertility that they might find embarrassing.”

For many men, there is also a major mental health dimension to ED. One systematic review in the International Journal of Impotence found that 37% of men with ED had an anxiety disorder.12

Emotional challenges

Shaun says, “There are very similar emotional challenges around infertility, which affects one in seven couples in the UK.13

“In around 20 to 30% of cases the problem lies solely with the man, and overall male factors contribute to half of all cases.14

And when a couple turns to assisted reproduction, support often focuses on the female partner. But 9% of men experience anxiety and 8% report depression at this time15 — and many are reluctant to talk about their feelings or seek help.16

One study found that when a couple embarks on fertility treatment, it impacts the mental health of 60% of the individuals involved, and almost half (49%) said infertility had undermined their work-life balance.17

It also flagged disparities in the fertility journey of men and women, and the importance of tailoring strategies to support men.

Earlier this year, researchers at Cambridge University called for a rethink on the “often-forgotten topic of reproductive health and infertility for men” and highlighted “the need to take a closer look at the relationship between male fertility, mental health, and sexual function”.18

Dr Naveen says, “These are complex issues, which often involve multiple physical and psychological drivers, so it’s important that workplace health and wellbeing support reflects this.

“ED, infertility and mental health are inextricably intertwined, and in some cases there will be other issues such as underlying health conditions or substance misuse which need to be addressed.

Specific needs

“Every man who is dealing with these sorts of challenges will have his own unique story, and specific needs. These problems don’t arise overnight and there is rarely a single cause — so there are very few quick fixes.

“But there are a range of solutions and strategies to support the men in your teams who are navigating these issues.”

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