Male Fertility Survey Reveals 80 Percent of Men Feel Overlooked When Experiencing Infertility Challenges

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In approximately 40 percent of couples struggling to create a family, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing cause of infertility.¹ Regardless of whether male infertility, female infertility or a combination of the two is the cause of couples’ infertility issues, men are often omitted from the infertility conversation. In honor of Men’s Health Month this June, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US) has announced findings from a survey conducted with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association to better understand how men feel when struggling with their own or their partner’s infertility.

Infertility, which affects 1 in 8 couples in the U.S., is characterized by the inability to become pregnant after one year of trying for women under 35 years of age or six months for women older than 35.² Although extremely common, every couple’s experience with infertility is different, and there are a variety of factors that can cause it. Common causes of male infertility are medical and environmental-related including hormone imbalances and exposure to heavy metals as well as health or lifestyle causes such as smoking, emotional stress and weight.³

“As women are often the center of the discussion when it comes to family-building, the male fertility survey we conducted has verified that men feel that they are too-often left out of the infertility conversation altogether,” said Barbara Collura, President & CEO, RESOLVE. “These results reinforce our commitment to providing both men and women with the support and guidance they need while navigating their fertility journeys.”

Key findings from the online survey of over 100 men, include:

• 80 percent of male respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that when discussing infertility, people often overlook what the male partner is going through emotionally throughout the process.
• When asked where the male respondents turn to for help with the emotional struggles of trying to build a family, the top resources included spouse/partner, friends, or family members.
• More than 66 percent of male respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that infertility issues have put a strain on their relationship.
• 93 percent of male respondents wished there were more resources designed specifically for men supporting a partner that is struggling with infertility issues.

In an effort to better help men navigate fertility challenges and address the lack of resources available, Ferring has teamed up with Drs. Alice D. Domar and Elizabeth Grill as well as content writers Dr. William Petok and Dr. Janet Takefman to launch FertiSTRONG, the first fertility mobile application (app) designed specifically for men. The app provides users with techniques to empower men with knowledge and self-help skills along their infertility journey.

“There are many resources available for women who are navigating infertility and it became evident that the same could not be said for men in similar situations,” said FertiSTRONG co-founder, Dr. Domar, PhD. “We were determined to develop FertiSTRONG both to provide men with the necessary skills and advice to support and encourage themselves through these seemingly unrecognized challenges as well as suggestions for more effectively supporting their partner.”

FertiSTRONG provides a variety of more than 500 custom coping options for over 50 specific situations which have the potential to cause distress for men throughout the family-building journey and serves as a helpful resource for the exact moment that a man may feel stressed, whenever and wherever they are, by providing them with techniques and strategies for common scenarios they may face.

“The results of the survey make clear that infertility takes a toll on both partners struggling to become parents,” said Paul Navarre, CEO, Ferring US. “Ferring, a world leader in reproductive medicine, is proud to offer a new resource specifically designed to help men navigate their individual fertility journeys.”

About FertiSTRONG

FertiSTRONG is the new mobile application specifically designed for men that serves as a resource for providing support and self-help skills throughout the emotional journey of infertility. To download the FertiSTRONG app visit fertistrong.com or search for FertiSTRONG in the App Store. For more information, contact info@fertistrong.com.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven biopharmaceutical company devoted to identifying, developing and marketing innovative products in the fields of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopedics. For nearly two decades, Ferring has provided a range of therapies to help women along every step of the fertility journey; however, equally important, the company has been committed to raising awareness of infertility, providing support to patients, and partnering with third-party organizations dedicated to impacting change. To learn more about Ferring, visit www.ferringusa.com.

About RESOLVE

Established in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family-building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age has trouble conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. RESOLVE addresses this public health issue by providing community to these women and men, connecting them with others who can help, empowering them to find resolution and giving voice to their demands for access to all family-building options. For more information, visit RESOLVE.org.

References:

1. ASRM. Quick Facts About Infertility. Available from: https://www.reproductivefacts.org/faqs/quick-facts-about-infertility/. Accessed May 7, 2018.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infertility FAQs: How long should couples try to get pregnant before seeing a doctor? Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/. Accessed May 8, 2018.
3. Mayo Clinic. Male Infertility. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/male-infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20374773. Accessed May 7, 2018.

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