{"id":261510,"date":"2022-03-16T16:50:08","date_gmt":"2022-03-16T20:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/?post_type=article&p=261510"},"modified":"2023-02-14T13:56:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T18:56:54","slug":"dear-ovia-male-fertility-testing","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/261510\/dear-ovia-male-fertility-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Ovia, Male fertility testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear Ovia is an ongoing series where we answer your love and relationship questions. To submit a question, send us a message on Instagram<\/a>. We answer all questions anonymously.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dear Ovia, How do I tell my hubby that he\u2019s the one who needs to get tested now?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is such an important issue, and a surprising challenge for many people with a male partner. It\u2019s been ingrained in our culture for so long that infertility is very likely a woman\u2019s \u201cfault.\u201d And many people are genuinely shocked to learn that about half of all known cases of infertility have what\u2019s called a male factor. Infertility is no one\u2019s<\/em> fault, and identifying medical issues that impact your struggle to conceive shouldn\u2019t carry stigma, but I live in the real world with you, so I know that stigma is alive and well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My advice is to be as dry as you can about it. If this is a first attempt, go basic, \u201cHey, doctors say the next step is a sperm analysis, they gave me the info for a provider for you.\u201d Even though there are big emotions involved, this is a medical and clinical step. Keeping the conversation simple and medical can help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, you know your hubby best. Would it work best to make the appointment and tell him when it is? Or maybe to have your doctor explain that it\u2019s the next step if he\u2019s said he doesn\u2019t think he needs to go get tested? Or to reassure him this is what everyone does at this stage? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, we live in a culture that often connects fertility and feelings of pride. If he\u2019s having trouble believing he may need medical help to conceive, there\u2019s probably some grieving and acceptance that has to happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More from this series<\/h3>\n\n\n\n