June is Men’s Health Month and an important time to raise awareness and educate about health conditions impacting men, such as infertility.
The birth rate in Illinois has been steadily declining for more than a decade¹ and fertility rates across the state are among some of the lowest in the U.S.,² making the path to parenthood challenging for many.
Conversations about fertility challenges are often centered around women, when in reality, male-factor infertility makes up 30% of all infertility cases in heterosexual couples trying to grow their families and 30% are due to both partners, or is unexplained.³ Many men may find it difficult to talk about their experiences trying to conceive and believe that fertility problems will make them less masculine or negatively impact their self-esteem.4
There are a wide range of possible reasons that a man may experience infertility. From environmental factors, such as smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, or medical risk factors, such as undescended testicles.2,5
You’re Not Alone – Local Resources May Benefit Eligible Individuals Living in Illinois
With approximately 1 in 20 men worldwide currently facing reduced fertility and declining sperm counts and sperm quality,5 it is important that men who may be having trouble conceiving know there are resources available. One such resource to explore is a clinical study being conducted by Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S in male infertility. This study is looking to enroll eligible male individuals located in the Chicago area to investigate if a new study medication may potentially improve sperm parameters and the chance of spontaneous pregnancy in their female partner.
“As a specialist in male reproductive medicine, I understand the challenges and feelings of frustration, confusion, and sometimes inadequacy that come with navigating a male factor infertility diagnosis,” said Dr. Craig Niederberger, male reproductive urologist and Clarence C. Saelhof Professor and Head, Department of Urology, University of Illinois at Chicago, and lead investigator of the study. “Raising awareness about male infertility will help normalize the conversation, break down the cultural stigmas that currently exist, and identify a path forward.”
To learn more about this clinical study, eligibility requirements, potential benefits, and how to apply, please visit adamclinicaltrial.com.
[1] Illinois Department of Public Health. Birth Statistics. Available at: https://dph.illinois.gov/data-statistics/vital-statistics/birth-statistics.html. Accessed May 25, 2024.
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/infertility-faq/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm. Accessed May 25, 2024.
[3] RESOLVE: The National infertility Association. Facts, diagnosis and risk factors. Available at: https://resolve.org/learn/infertility-101/facts-diagnosis-and-risk-factors/. Accessed May 24, 2024.
[4] Harlow, AF, Zheng, A, Nordberg, J, et al. A qualitative study of factors influencing male participation in fertility research. Reproductive Health 2020;17;186. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-020-01046-y. Accessed May 24, 2024.
[5] Ravitsky V, Kimmins The forgotten men: rising rates of male infertility urgently require new approaches for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Biol Reprod. 2019 Nov 21; 10.1093/biolre/ioz161.
This post is sponsored content. Sponsored posts at www.positivelynaperville.com are available to most Naperville area businesses and organizations.
