Fertility is a common discussion that many people have to face at some points in their life. Many couples try to have a baby and do so with ease, others struggle a little more. There are several factors that contribute to infertility and fertility struggles. Some may think since the female grows the baby, that would imply that the fertility would be solely dependent on the female but this is not the case. Therefore, the male should show interest in investigating the problem influencing fertility and the female should support this. This essay will discuss fertility and participatory research in males.
According to the readings, “Participatory (or sometimes action) research is when the researchers are a part of the community or other social situation and are vested in trying to learn something about an issue in that community.” (Psu, 2023). It is common to see the female in a relationship trying to conceive seeking help when needed for fertility but conceiving is based on both partners in the relationship. The question remains then, why are there far more females in fertility studies than men? Information that are pertaining to male fertility is vital to further research and develop better strategies to reduce infertility. This is why male participation in this research is important. We will now discuss why this discrepancy may occur and what can happen with this research.
According to the article, A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Male Participation in Fertility Research, “Male and female participants perceived that fertility is a women’s health issue and is a difficult topic for men to discuss. Men expressed fears of infertility tied to masculinity.” (Harlow et al.,2020). These results can suggest why the data on male and female fertility is not equal. If women feel that the issue is not a male problem because of their biological roots then why would males feel inclined to participate if they feel like they cannot help? This could be due to cultural or societal beliefs. Furthermore, the other issue found in this study of men feeling uncomfortable because they fear it will negatively impact their own self perception can definitely deter willing participation in data. We can see how both genders can contribute to this discrepancy in data. However, “Results suggest that more education and health communication on male fertility and reproductive health could help increase male participation in reproductive health research.” (Harlow et al.,2020).
In conclusion, we can now visualize how male participatory research in fertility is a multi-faceted issue. There are many contributing factors to this that involve not only men but also women. Societal and Cultural beliefs, fears and more can contribute to this issue. Therefore, it would be safe to conclude that the education of infertility as a whole is needed. Men should be able to feel normal coming into a space such as a fertility clinic without fear or stigma. Women should be able to be supported by their partners on their journey to pregnancy. These goals can hopefully be achieved through awareness and lead to change. Male fertility research is vital and studies suggest an increase in willingness to participate through education and awareness.
References
Harlow, A. F., Zheng, A., Nordberg, J., Hatch, E. E., Ransbotham, S., & Wise, L. A. (2020). A qualitative study of factors influencing male participation in fertility research. Reproductive health, 17(1), 186. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-020-01046-y
Psu. Lesson Overview. Penn State. https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2283102/modules/items/38851166
Tags: #fertility, awareness, education, health, infertility, male, participatory research
This was a very interesting blog to read, thank you for sharing your thoughts and research on fertility and male participation. Unfortunately, I am not surprised by the proposed reasons behind the lack of male participation and representation in fertility research. As a female (even one not considering the idea of pregnancy any time soon), the issue of fertility is something that is ingrained in our brains from early on. It can feel like any pregnancy-related topic is primarily a female requirement and a male elective, placing undue pressure on the female population and ignoring the large role males play in reproduction. I agree that a more open and honest education on reproduction and male participation could lead to decreased stigma surrounding the topic and hopefully lead to an increase in male representation in fertility studies and research. Overall, great thoughts, thank you for sharing!
Hello,
You bring up a good point. It is often the case that the topic of infertility centers on females only. Participatory research of all of those involved, meaning both men and women, would help further destigmatize talking about fertility. Speaking to couples struggling with fertility may empower them to take control of their narrative and alleviate any negative feelings about speaking openly.
References
Harlow, A. F., Zheng, A., Nordberg, J., Hatch, E. E., Ransbotham, S., & Wise, L. A. (2020). A qualitative study of factors influencing male participation in fertility research. Reproductive health, 17(1), 186. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-020-01046-y
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (Eds.). (2016). Applied social psychology : Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. SAGE Publications, Incorporated.