Talking about men’s health is still, for many men, a postponed topic. Not due to lack of information, but because of habit, stigma, or the mistaken idea that “if it doesn’t hurt, nothing is wrong.” However, during February, the is commemorated Men’s Health Month is a direct invitation to change that narrative: taking care of your health is a responsible decision that impacts not only quality of life, but also future projects such as building a family.
Male reproductive health is a fundamental part of overall well-being. Even so, it often remains outside the conversation until difficulty achieving a pregnancy appears. This month seeks to make a clear reality visible: male fertility exists, it changes over time, and it also deserves timely medical attention.
Talking about men’s health is not only talking about disease, but about prevention, information, and conscious decisions.
Why does Men’s Health Month exist?
Men’s Health Month emerged as a global initiative to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early diagnosis in men. Historically, men tend to visit the doctor less often, undergo fewer preventive checkups, and normalize symptoms that could indicate a health problem.
This lack of medical follow-up has real consequences:
- Late diagnoses
- More complex treatments
- Direct impact on quality of life
- Silent effects on reproductive health
In the context of fertility, this delay can translate into years of trying without clear answers, emotional frustration, and lost opportunities that could have been identified earlier with proper evaluation.
Men’s health: beyond the obvious
When people talk about men’s health, they often think only of cardiovascular disease or prostate cancer. However, men’s health encompasses much more, including:
- Hormonal health
- Metabolic health
- Sexual health
- Reproductive health
- Emotional health
All of these aspects are interconnected. An imbalance in one can directly affect the others, especially fertility.
For example, conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, chronic stress, or hormonal imbalances not only affect overall well-being, but also sperm production, quality, and function.
Male fertility also changes over time
There is a widespread belief that the passage of time does not affect fertility in men. The reality is that changes do occur, although they are usually more gradual than in women.
With age, the following may occur:
- Decreased sperm quality
- Alterations in sperm motility
- Changes in morphology
- Increased sperm DNA fragmentation
- Hormonal changes
These changes do not always produce obvious symptoms. A man may feel “fine” and still have factors that make achieving a pregnancy more difficult.
That is why male reproductive health should not be evaluated only when there is a problem, but as part of preventive care.
What factors can affect male fertility?
Male fertility can be influenced by multiple factors, many of them common and, in some cases, reversible if detected in time.
- Lifestyle
Habits such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, sedentary behavior, or lack of sleep directly impact sperm quality. - Chronic stress
Sustained stress affects the hormonal axis and can interfere with proper sperm production. - Hormonal imbalances
Low testosterone levels or other hormonal imbalances can go unnoticed for years. - Metabolic diseases
Conditions such as obesity or diabetes are closely related to reproductive alterations. - Infections or medical history
Some infections, previous surgeries, or medical treatments can impact fertility without causing obvious symptoms.
The importance of fertility testing in men
One of the biggest mistakes is thinking that fertility testing only applies to women. The reality is that the male factor plays a significant role in infertility cases.
Undergoing testing does not mean assuming there is a problem, but rather obtaining clear information about the current state of reproductive health.
Among the most common tests are:
- Semen evaluation
- Hormonal studies
- Review of medical history
- Specialized urological evaluation
These tests make it possible to identify factors that may be influencing fertility and to make informed decisions, even before trying to conceive.
Emotional health: a component that also matters
Talking about men’s health also means talking about emotions. Social pressure, expectations, and the traditional role assigned to men often make it difficult to express fear, frustration, or uncertainty, especially when pregnancy does not happen.
In fertility processes, many men experience:
- Guilt
- A sense of responsibility
- Fear of failure
- Difficulty expressing emotions
Recognizing these feelings and addressing them appropriately is part of comprehensive male health care. Fertility is not only a biological process; it is also a shared emotional experience.
The role of men in fertility processes
Reproductive health is a team effort. Getting involved from the beginning not only facilitates diagnosis, but also strengthens the emotional process and joint decision-making.
Active participation involves:
- Undergoing testing from the start
- Attending medical consultations
- Becoming informed about the process
- Providing emotional support
- Making decisions based on real information
When men fully integrate into the process, periods of uncertainty are reduced and clearer, more effective strategies are built.
Prevention: the key message of Men’s Health Month
The central message of this month is clear: prevention changes stories.
Waiting until there is a problem can limit options. Getting informed, being evaluated, and caring for health preventively makes it possible to:
- Detect factors early
- Make decisions with greater clarity
- Reduce emotional impact
- Preserve reproductive options
- Improve quality of life
Taking care of your health today is not just a personal decision; it is also an investment in future plans.
Men’s health and the desire to have a baby
For many men, the desire to have a baby appears later in life, when there is already personal, professional, or emotional stability. However, the body does not always follow the same timeline.
That is why knowing the state of reproductive health allows expectations to align with reality and helps make informed decisions, without haste or pressure.
Information does not force immediate action, but it does provide tools to decide with greater confidence when the time comes.
Getting informed is the first step
Men’s Health Month does not seek to alarm, but to invite reflection. Reflection on habits, postponed decisions, and the importance of listening to the body, even when there are no obvious symptoms.
Talking about male fertility is not talking about limits, but about possibilities. Possibilities that expand when there is clear information, proper evaluation, and professional support.
Taking care of your health also means taking care of your future
Men’s health should not wait. It should not remain in the background or become a priority only when a problem appears.
This month is an opportunity to take a clear step: get informed, get evaluated, and make timely decisions. Because prevention is not exaggeration; it is responsibility.
At Ingenes, we see every day how many stories change when a man decides to undergo a complete evaluation without fear. Sometimes the diagnosis arrives in time. Sometimes what seemed “normal” had an explanation. And many times, knowing the reality opens real options to move forward with a well-structured plan.
Because taking care of your health today can also make a difference in the future you imagine.
And if the desire to have a baby is part of your story, that path does not begin the day you try: it begins much earlier, with information, prevention, and proper evaluation.