Procreation, Potency, and the Price of Paternity: The Social and Psychological Impact of a Diagnosis of Male Factor Infertility.

Male factor infertility accounts for roughly half of all infertility cases, yet receives far less clinical, research, and public attention than female infertility. Historical, cultural, and medical factors, particularly the absence of comparable therapeutic advances, contribute to this neglect. A diagnosis can threaten identity and masculinity, leading to depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction, while stigma and cultural taboos around semen collection compound distress. Men often feel excluded from care and remain socially invisible. Applying patient-centered frameworks such as the 4 "I" model-Invite, Inform, Involve, Intervene-can guide inclusive, psychologically informed treatment and advance understanding of male infertility's psychosocial dimensions.