It Is Time We Rethink Our Approach to Enhancing Access to Male Infertility Care

Abstract

Approximately half a million men each year facing infertility in the USA are not properly evaluated by a dedicated male infertility specialist. Prior research has examined barriers to male infertility care from epidemiologic, geographic, financial, socioeconomic, and health policy perspectives. This article aims to describe barriers to male infertility care that have traditionally received less consideration and to suggest innovative solutions for enhancing access to care. We explore how the portrayal of male infertility in television shows, movies, and news media shapes the public perception of male infertility. We then define how social networking websites influence awareness and engagement with the concept of male infertility. In addition, potential avenues for collaboration with other medical providers to increase the frequency of male infertility workups are discussed. Finally, we touch on how funding for basic science and clinical research shapes the spectrum of available treatment options and briefly review state-of-the-art research in male infertility. Access to dedicated male infertility care represents an unmet public health need in the USA. Using an atypical lens, the authors’ goal is to provide a brief review of issues surrounding access to male infertility care and to highlight new avenues to enhance access.