Abstract
Clinical infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of trying. Male factors are estimated to contribute to 30–50% of cases of infertility. Infertility or reduced fertility can result from testicular dysfunction, endocrinopathies, lifestyle factors (such as tobacco and obesity), congenital anatomical factors, gonadotoxic exposures and ageing, among others. The evaluation of male infertility includes detailed history taking, focused physical examination and selective laboratory testing, including semen analysis. Treatments include lifestyle optimization, empirical or targeted medical therapy as well as surgical therapies that lead to measurable improvement in fertility. Although male infertility is recognized as a disease with effects on quality of life for both members of the infertile couple, fewer data exist on specific quantification and impact compared with other health-related conditions.
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M.L.E. is an adviser to Ro, Inc., Doveras, Next and VSeat. J.M.H. is an equity holder and co-founder of Paterna Biosciences, a consultant for Turtle Health and Carrot. K.H. is a medical director at Reprosource. D.J.L is an equity holder of Fellow Health, and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Ro, Inc. (stock options not executed and compensation). D.J.L. is supported in part by the Frederick J. and Theresa Dow Wallace Fund of the New York Community Trust and the Robert S. Dow Professorship in Urology. The other authors declare no competing interests.
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Eisenberg, M.L., Esteves, S.C., Lamb, D.J. et al. Male infertility. Nat Rev Dis Primers 9, 49 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-023-00459-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-023-00459-w
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