Dealing with Male Infertility

Experiencing problems with infertility as a man can make men struggle with feeling inadequate. Men often experience the same up and down emotions as women do when it comes to not being able to have a child but are often reluctant to communicate the feelings because having a child is tied in with who they are as a man. They feel like they’ve somehow failed, both as a man and as a romantic partner.

Men respond differently when dealing with male infertility. They might bury themselves in activities or work as a coping mechanism because they need to do something, anything over which they do have control. The inside turmoil may show in outward displays of anger, of moodiness or depression.

The main difference between men and women dealing with the same situation is that most men are reluctant to talk about what they’re going through. Instead, they attempt to cope with it on their own, not knowing that they’re not alone, that other men are also fighting the same battle – trying to understand and come to terms with the diagnosis. Some men tie their ability to father children in directly with their manhood so that when problems occur, their self-esteem suffers.

There are numerous causes that can lead to a problem with the production of sperm. Stress, especially if it’s long term emotional stress can lead to problems being able to father a child. Other problems are health related such as a blockage or a nutritional deficit.

Even the temperature can play a role in fighting against men wanting to be a father. Regular use of a hot tub can cause fertility problems due to the heat. A study conducted at a New York university involved men holding laptop computers on their laps.

The study concluded that when a man’s testicles are subject to elevated temperatures, it leads to a lowered sperm count. The count was cut almost in half from what it would normally be without the raised temperature.

How does one deal with male infertility? The first step is to get educated. There are as many various causes of the problem as there are solutions, but you can’t come to terms with something you don’t understand.

Begin with having a complete physical checkup. Rule out any underlying health problems that can affect any ability to have a child. Did you know that diabetes can cause a man to have trouble being able to father children?

So can prostate cancer. So can exposure to certain hazards in the environment such as lead or pesticides. You can have a semen analysis done by a qualified urologist that will let you know if there are physical ailments that need to be dealt with.

It’s imperative that you reach out to your partner and share your burden, share your emotions about how you’re dealing with the issue. If you feel the need to talk with other men about what you’re experiencing, ask your doctor to recommend a support group.