The Future of Fatherhood, Part 2

(Full report available here)

In the first part of our report, we explored the historical decline of male fertility and the shifting course of family planning. In this section, we will highlight one of the major reasons why the crisis has not been a part of the mainstream discourse regarding fertility.

When people struggle to get pregnant, they typically think the underlying issue stems from the woman – often pointing to age, egg count, and overall health status. The problem with that logic is that it disproportionately puts the blame on women. Not only is this sexist, but it’s also factually incorrect. The pregnancy process can be emotionally and mentally taxing on women, and the misplaced blame ignores a key part of the fertility equation – men. It is imperative for those seeking to get pregnant to have an all-encompassing conversation around infertility that takes into account the hard data.

In Legacy’s Future of Fatherhood Report, we point to some key statistics related to infertility and the couples who experience it. According to our report, this data includes the following:

• Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, or 6 months if the woman is over 35.
• Contrary to popular belief, many couples don’t get pregnant right away; 20-35% of couples fail to conceive in the first 6 months of trying.
• Infertility is fairly common and impacts 1 in 7 couples trying to have children.

One effect of this one-sided conversation is that many couples opt for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments as their only or best solution. While IVF is the right option for some, for others it’s not always the optimal method. Accurately prescribing IVF requires that both partners be medically examined beforehand, but only 1 out of 5 men gets tested alongside their partner. As we reshape the conversation around fertility, new approaches toward conceiving children will make the process more effective and cost-efficient – and more inclusive.