When infertility is discussed, the conversation generally focuses on female reproductive issues. However, male factor infertility is a contributing factor in approximately 50% of couples who are struggling to conceive in Kenya.
Even though men are just as likely as women to feel a deep sense of sorrow or anxiety, they are left to deal with these emotions on their own. Partly because most of the discussion about the emotional experience of infertility is focused on the woman. The man also is left to quietly deal with this struggle on his own given the African culture that requires him to be “tough”.
While it is without question a difficult thing for a man to accept the diagnosis of Male infertility, there are some few things that could help in coping better and also improving his fertility.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
The first step in coping with the stress of male infertility is to simply acknowledge what you’re feeling and to give yourself space to feel those emotions. Be open with your partner and communicate what you’re feeling. It can also be helpful to talk to a third party, such as a fertility doctor, a friend, a counselor, a support group, or a pastor. Keeping something so stressful a secret can eat away at you, but opening up and sharing what you’re going through can help lighten the load.
Take Control
Once you have given yourself some time to process what you’re going through emotionally, you can start taking control of the situation. Some things you can do include:
- Making an appointment with a fertility specialist.
- Getting a second opinion
- Researching as much as you can about fertility
- Preparing questions for your doctor
At the same time, talk to your partner about what this means for the long term. Research the various fertility treatment options that are available and discuss which ones may be the best for your situation. Also, talk about these treatment options in terms of what you can handle emotionally and financially.
Focus On Your Physical Health
Taking control of your physical health will help improve your overall physical and mental health which will not only help you cope better with the situation but it could also improve your fertility especially if your challenge is poor sperm quality.
Some ideas for taking control of your physical health include:
- Eating a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and limited processed foods
- Being physically active/exercising
- Avoiding cigarettes, excessive drinking, and drugs
- Achieving or maintaining a healthy BMI
- Supplementing your diet with dietary supplements designed to improve your overall health and fertility.
All of these and more can help improve your sperm quality while also helping you cope with any emotional stress that you are feeling.
We would love to hear from you. How are you coping with male infertility? Talk to us on info@hannahsorison.com you can also reach us on 0759205704.