June is Men’s Health Month, an opportunity to spotlight the unique health challenges men face—and to change the way we talk about them. One of the most overlooked and under-discussed topics in men’s health? Fertility. It’s time to bring it to the forefront.
As a fellowship-trained urologist specializing in sexual medicine and male fertility, I’ve witnessed firsthand how male reproductive health is too often sidelined in conversations around family-building. For far too long, male fertility has been treated as secondary or even invisible in the broader conversation around family-building. Not anymore.
According to the World Health Organization, one in six couples experiences infertility. Men contribute to nearly half of those cases, and in 20 to 30 percent, male factor is the sole cause. Despite this, men are often left out of the fertility workup and treatment plan entirely. It’s time to change that narrative. Let’s be clear: Male infertility is not a personal failing—it’s a medical condition, and in some cases, an early warning sign of underlying health concerns such as hormonal imbalances, testicular disorders, or even chronic disease. Recognizing and addressing it can improve not only fertility but also overall health and well-being. It’s time we normalize talking about it, diagnosing it, and treating it.
A comprehensive approach to male fertility care includes everything from pre-conception counseling to procedures like microscopic varicocelectomy, vasectomy reversal, and sperm retrieval techniques such as microTESE. Hormonal therapies can help restore balance and preserve fertility. These are life-changing interventions that help men build families while supporting their physical, emotional, and relational health.
We also know these conversations don’t happen in a vacuum. Topics like erectile dysfunction, testosterone use, and the stress of trying to conceive can deeply impact confidence and intimacy, and they’re all part of the broader reproductive health picture. I regularly see patients who are surprised to learn that treatments like testosterone therapy can harm sperm production or that difficulty with erections may stem from performance anxiety, stress, hormonal issues, or undiagnosed medical conditions. These are important discussions, and they deserve to happen in a setting that is open, evidence-based, and stigma-free.
Beyond clinical treatment, foundational lifestyle factors—nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management—play a crucial role in hormonal balance, sperm health, energy, and mood. Addressing fertility means looking at the full picture and working collaboratively with patients to identify meaningful changes.
Men’s Health Month is an ideal time to take that first step. Fertility is health. Sexual function is health. Confidence and connection are health. Reframing the way we talk about male fertility isn’t just about improving outcomes—it’s about reshaping how men understand, experience, and engage with their care.
The progress being made in men’s health is encouraging. But it all starts with conversation. Let’s keep talking and let’s keep listening.
Charles Loeb, MD is a urologist specializing in sexual medicine and male fertility.
Hoag is a nonprofit, regional health care delivery network in Orange County, California, that treats more than 30,000 inpatients and 480,000 outpatients annually. Hoag consists of two acute-care hospitals – Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, which opened in 1952, and Hoag Hospital Irvine, which opened in 2010 – in addition to nine health centers and 13 urgent care centers.
Hoag has invested $261 million in programs and services to support the underserved community within the past five years, including areas like mental health, homelessness, transportation for seniors, education, and support for single mothers. Hoag is a designated Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Hoag offers a comprehensive blend of health care services that includes five institutes providing specialized services in the following areas: cancer, heart and vascular, neurosciences, women’s health, and orthopedics through Hoag’s affiliate, Hoag Orthopedic Institute, which consists of an orthopedic hospital and four ambulatory surgical centers.
In the 2020–2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Rankings, Hoag is the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County, and the only OC hospital ranked in the top 10 in California. Visit www.hoag.org for more information.
