Male Infertility Issue

More than 2.5 million men in Britain may be suffering from fertility problems.  Many men are in denial about the risk of infertility and tend to believe that problems in conceiving are more likely to be the "fault" of the woman. This may have been to protect the fragile male ego and it remains a sensitive area. Most probably male psyche equates fertility with virility, and views failure to father a child with shame.

This is why male infertility has usually been a taboo topic; and the unique problems which the infertile man has to deal with are rarely discussed.

 Factors that Influence Fertility

• A man’s overall health and life style.
• Habits such as nutrition, exercise, smoking, or drug and alcohol intake.
• Medications, including common medications used to treat ulcers and high blood pressure and etc.
• Drugs 
• Lubricants

It is tough enough to deal with fertility issue and top it up with the male 'EGO', I would say, it is VERY tough and impossible in my girlfriend's case.

My girl friend married into a 'ONLY ONE' son family in year 2002. When my gynea friend got pregnant in 2005, I was jealous but took her advice and seek treatment and got pregnant in 2007. My girl friend seek our advice in 2007 and still not able to do anything about it. 

She was constantly under pressure by the family especially during get together session or festive season. When she was asked the question ' when are you going to start a family?', the husband will conveniently walk away and left her with all these 'aunties' questions to answer. Her common answer will be "we are trying". Imagine getting those sort of question from Year 2002 till now? It is 2012 next year, it will a 10 years old question by then!!! In a very traditional Chinese family, of course, everybody will think she is having problem and has recommended her various types of Chinese traditional medication.

She actually went to visit Dr. Prashant in year 2007. Doctor was saying she has a minor cyst problem, not really of a concern and requested her husband to carry out the sperm test. This is the major problem. Until today, he refuses to carry out the test. Dr. Prashant advised her that there is no point trying IVF or other fertility treatments without knowing the root problem. It will be a waste of time and money and again, these treatment will need the husband's sperm. My girl friend even ordered through the clinic a special condom to contain the sperm for test but he just refused to do anything about it.

We have spoken to her and she said she is giving up unless she wants to get in a fight with him. We also think it is no point trying as the fertility treatment journey is a long journey and need commitment, patient, understanding and support of the other partner. She is also age 41 now. 

So, the above, is a classic case of man and his ego! Come on, we are leaving in this new age era! The husband and wife relationship can be like a good friends' relationship. We could share and talk of everything. Maybe it is just my friend's husband who is still leaving in a stone age mentality and a very insensitive person! Poor my girl friend, who still need to deal with all the questions/stress from the family especially when the husband is the only son. She maybe cursed by the family behind her back too!

My personal opinion on dealing with male fertility problem is you have to be very careful with your partner's feeling and should keep the problem between the both of you, talk it through, work it out, be patient and with the blessing from GOD, you may get your little angel someday.