Chapter 1 of 4
What is Male Infertility?
Chapter 1 of 4
What is Male Infertility?
25%
Introduction to Male Infertility
The World Health Organization defines male infertility as the inability of a male to make a fertile female pregnant after a minimum of at least one year of regular unprotected intercourse.
Both men and women are responsible for infertility. Overall, the male factor contributes about 50% of all infertility cases.
The World Health Organization defines male infertility as the inability of a male to make a fertile female pregnant after a minimum of at least one year of regular unprotected intercourse.
Both men and women are responsible for infertility. Overall, the male factor contributes about 50% of all infertility cases.
Studies have shown that compared to the 1970s, sperm counts of men worldwide have dropped by 50%. Low sperm count is one of the factors contributing to the increasing male infertility.
The COVID-19 pandemic has likely made things worse, as it has been linked to higher infertility rates.
According to a study done in 2018, it is estimated that 7% of men worldwide experience infertility. Since then, the prevalence of infertility has been steadily increasing due to multiple factors, including poorer lifestyle choices and greater exposure to environmental factors.
In Chapter 3, you will explore the causes of male infertility in greater detail.