Men are often shocked, and even ashamed, when they learn they will need to use a donor due to male infertility. They needn’t be.
BY MARGARET J. VEREB, M.D.
As an andrologist, I am the doctor who treats couples with male factor infertility. It is estimated that 50 percent of all fertility issues are male factor, and yet it usually comes as a shock, and may even bring feelings of shame. Men most often need a donor because they can’t make useful sperm or because they can’t afford the technology to use what they have. (One round of in vitro fertilization [IVF] with Intracytoplasmic sperm injection costs roughly $12,000, while one donor insemination is about $1,000.) I wanted to share these families’ stories to let you know that good things can come from this.
“I can love any child who is half my wife”
Stan was sent to me from his primary doctor for low testosterone. At 28 years old he had premature testis failure, the male equivalent of premature ovarian failure, when women begin menopause very young. This is one of the hardest conversations a doctor can have…
