Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1431464
Cyrus Engerer Cyrus Engerer is a Labour MEP (S&D) 12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 NOVEMBER 2021 OPINION CURRENTLY in Europe, we face the ever-growing silent ep- idemic of male infertility with very little research being done to combat this matter. Across the globe male factor infertil- ity contributes to 30-40% of diagnoses for infertile couples and is the sole cause 20% of the time. It is estimated that by 2050, 40% of males will experi- ence infertility related issues. It is a reality that men are not active healthcare seekers and have a higher tendency to sup- press infertility related emo- tions. Most men receive med- ical advice from their partner's doctor rather than their own and 50% of all men who had taken part in a global survey carried out by Dr. Christopher J. De Jonge found that 50% of all men are being recommend- ed herbal supplements to treat their infertility. One in six Maltese couples are affected by infertility; fol- lowing the Embryo Protection Act's annual report in 2014, male-factor infertility account- ed for 32.35% of cases while fe- male-factor infertility stood at 31.76%. Not only does Europe have a declining birth rate causing an aging population, which in turn puts a strain on resources and depletion of pension funds, but also men have a right to fam- ily and access to comprehen- sive reproductive health care. Overall, the topic of infertility remains a taboo and in rela- tion to male infertility, a strong misconception exists. Many believe that infertility is equivalent to impotence and this further reinforces the no- tion that men should not speak about it amongst their peers and healthcare professionals. The global survey also found that only 16% of men knew about male infertility support groups within their communi- ty. The survey also showed that for men to seek fertility treat- ment there is usually always a mutual interest – their partner is also highly motivated to re- solve the issue. This old-fash- ioned and outdated ideology of men not speaking up about their mental and physical health has plagued our society for centuries and has now re- sulted in the amalgamation of a number of mental and physical health problems that continue to remain undiagnosed and un- treated within our community - infertility is only one of them. In Malta we have a long way to go when it comes to the fur- ther refinement of our repro- ductive healthcare. When it comes to tackling the problem of the increase of male infertili- ty rates in our country, we must begin by further understanding the topic and give the experts in the field enough resources and funding to do so. We must also encourage young men to become active healthcare seek- ers and encourage them to seek specialised treatment as well as routine check-ups. As a community, we must be- gin fostering a safe space for men to be able to reach out and discuss their physical and men- tal health amongst their peers without reservations and fear of judgement. We should also encourage our healthcare providers to take a more holistic approach when dealing with couples with in- fertility challenges, by recom- mending and giving equal im- portance to men when it comes to seeking treatment. As poli- cy makers, we should give the topic of male infertility the im- portance it deserves and con- tinue to listen to the experts in the field so as to implement the necessary policies as well as be able to provide access to the necessary treatments to our community. The male infertility crisis in Europe In Malta we have a long way to go when it comes to the further refinement of our reproductive healthcare. When it comes to tackling the problem of the increase of male infertility rates in our country, we must begin by further understanding the topic and give the experts in the field enough resources and funding to do so.