Male fertility: The talk no one is having, until now

For far too long, the fertility conversation has focused almost exclusively on women—from the emotional burden to the medical interventions. But behind closed doors, there’s another side of the story, one that’s rarely talked about: male fertility.

While male factors are responsible for about 50% of known infertility cases, men remain overlooked in conversations, care, and solutions, left feeling helpless or uninformed, often turning to Google or social media to seek answers. 

In a first-of-its-kind national survey, Maven Clinic and Posterity Health asked over 500 men between ages 25–49 who are trying or planning to have children about their knowledge and attitudes towards their fertility. The survey explored topics including attitudes toward semen testing, lifestyle changes to improve fertility, and interest in digital health to support their fertility journey.  

The assumption has long been that men are uninterested in engaging with their reproductive health. Our results paint a different picture. While men are cautious and feel a level of stigma around fertility, they are also deeply curious, eager for information, and ready to take action—they just haven’t been given the right tools and spaces to do so.  

And fertility is just the starting point. If we can get fertility care right for men, we have the chance to unlock something even bigger. Engaging with reproductive health can be the first step toward deeper, more proactive involvement in their overall well being, with the potential to drive positive outcomes across many aspects of health, not just fertility. 

What men think they know vs. what’s actually true

Many men still believe infertility is mostly a women’s issue, with nearly 1 in 3 men surveyed believing that male infertility contributes to 30% or less of the time when couples have trouble conceiving. In reality, it's closer to 50%. This assumption is not only inaccurate, but has real consequences, delaying proper diagnoses and often forcing women to pursue costly fertility treatments they may not actually need. 

What causes male infertility, and how is it evaluated?

Like with female infertility, male infertility can result from a number of different factors, ranging from biological to environmental. On a medical level, hormone imbalances, genetic conditions, and physical issues like undescended testicles or varicoceles can contribute to infertility.

However, environmental and lifestyle factors can also affect fertility. Using tobacco or marijuana products, drinking excessive alcohol, or carrying excess weight can all impact a person’s ability to conceive. 

The most common first step in evaluating male fertility is a semen analysis. This simple, non-invasive test looks at key metrics like sperm count, motility (how well sperm move), and morphology (sperm shape) to assess overall sperm health. It’s often the starting point for identifying whether male factors could be contributing to a couple’s difficulty conceiving. 

Male fertility and the surrounding stigma

Part of the lack of understanding around male infertility may be due to the stigma surrounding it. In the research, Maven and Posterity found that 57% of men think there is a stigma associated with male fertility testing—especially non-Hispanic white men (62%). But interestingly, lower-income men were the least likely to feel that stigma (46%).

Discomfort is one of the biggest barriers cited: 39% of men say they’d avoid semen testing because it feels awkward or inconvenient.

When asked why they might not test their fertility, the top reasons included:

• Feeling confident in their fertility (39%)
• Fear of the results (29%)

“Men talk about sex, but we rarely talk about fertility,” says Dr. Neel Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Maven. “Far too often, it comes up as a conversation ender rather than starter—like when couples are in the midst of trying for a baby and the stakes feel impossibly high. This approach fails both men and the people who love them. At Maven we believe by learning to engage men in their fertility early, we can better engage them in their health for the long term.” 

Despite the stigma and discomfort, curiosity —yes, plain curiosity — is emerging as a strong motivator:

• Men who have not conducted semen analysis are most likely to test their semen out of pure curiosity about their fertility (57%).
• 46% would test in preparation for future conception

Where men are turning for answers (it’s not just their doctor)

While attitudes are evolving, education hasn’t kept pace. Too many men still hold outdated or inaccurate beliefs about fertility, as found in the data above. Many simply don’t know what steps to take to assess or improve their fertility, and the resources available to them are often incomplete, inconsistent, or hard to access. As it stands now, the internet is largely filling that gap: 

• 50% of men have learned about male fertility through medical websites 
• 45% have learned through social media
• Less than half of men (48%) are learning about their own fertility from their healthcare provider

This lack of comprehensive education may be preventing men from taking action: When asked why they would not make lifestyle changes to improve their overall fertility, 26% of men noted that they simply did not know what changes to make.

“While adolescent girls and young women are encouraged to see a gynecologist regularly, men lack a clear doorway to reproductive care,” said Dr. Joshua Halpern, Chief Scientific Officer of Posterity Health. “This first of its kind survey emphasizes that men are eager to know more about their health, but often unsure where to turn or how to take control. At-home semen analysis is a convenient, scalable, and clinically-backed method for finally bringing men to the fertility table.”

Fertility as a gateway to better health habits

Building a family can provide powerful motivation for men to make positive health changes that have ripple effects beyond fertility. Sperm is a sensitive marker of overall health, which means changes like eating better, sleeping more, or exercising regularly can lead to noticeable improvements in just a few weeks. That kind of quick feedback can be incredibly motivating, especially for men who are trying or planning to conceive.

Among men currently trying to conceive or planning to conceive in the future:

• 55% would make lifestyle changes if they believed it would help
• Nearly half have already cut back on alcohol, eaten healthier, or become more active
• For those who haven’t made lifestyle changes yet, half are open to adopting a healthier diet or increasing their physical activity, and about a third would be open to reducing their alcohol consumption

Digital health presents an opportunity to engage men in their care

It’s not that men don’t want to talk about fertility—it’s that they need to be engaged in the right ways. For many men, digital health platforms may be seen as a more comfortable and convenient solution, helping minimize some of the stigma associated with infertility:

• 91% of men noted they are interested in digital health resources to support their fertility
• 55% are interested in messaging with healthcare providers through digital health resources
• 54% are interested in reading articles on male fertility and infertility
• 48% are interested in video calls with healthcare providers

This is where Maven comes in. At Maven Clinic, we’re supporting male fertility across all stages of care—from initial curiosity to conception and beyond. Our platform includes: 

• Comprehensive clinical support: Maven offers 24/7/365 virtual access to a network of fertility experts who specialize in male infertility. Providers can offer personalized plans that support male partners alongside their female partners or gestational carriers. Through a partnership with Posterity, Maven collaborates with best-in-class experts for specialized male fertility support, and also partners with Fellow for semen analysis that can be done in the comfort of the members' home.
• Education and community: Maven members can access an extensive library of clinically-vetted articles, designed to educate male members on their fertility. Members can also attend on-demand classes and connect with peers through community forums. 
• Care navigation: Fertility treatments and care can be confusing to navigate, especially for men who may not know what kind of fertility support they need. Maven’s Care Advocates and Care Coaches are with members as soon as they sign up for Maven. These advocates build members’ care teams based on their unique needs, help them understand coverage through their health insurance and employer reimbursement, and connect them to in-person care when needed. 

For employers who want to learn more about how Maven can help, schedule a demo with our team.