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IT’S NOT JUST HER! Understanding Male Fertility Issue

As a man, I have noticed that conversations about fertility often centre around women. It’s time we acknowledge that making a baby is a two-player game, and sometimes the glitch is on our side. Yes, gentlemen, I am talking about male infertility, a topic that deserves as much attention as its female counterpart.

When couples struggle to conceive, societal whispers often point fingers at the woman. However, medical science tells a different story. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), male infertility accounts for about 50% of all infertility cases worldwide. That’s right! half. It’s not just her; sometimes, it’s us.

Understanding Male Infertility

Male infertility primarily stems from issues with sperm production, function, or delivery. Common problems include low sperm count, poor sperm motility (that’s how well they swim), and abnormal sperm morphology (shape). Lifestyle factors, medical conditions, and environmental exposures can all play a role.

Numbers That Might Surprise You

 Sperm Count Decline: A comprehensive study published in Human Reproduction Update in 2017 found that sperm counts among men in Western countries have plummeted by nearly 60% between 1973 and 2011. That is a staggering drop, suggesting that male reproductive health is facing a crisis.

Global Impact: The same study indicates that this isn’t just a Western problem; emerging data suggest similar trends worldwide. Factors like pollution, stress, and lifestyle changes are contributing globally.

What’s Behind the Decline?

Several culprits are in the lineup:

Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, and obesity can negatively affect sperm quality. A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that men who watched over 20 hours of TV a week had a 44% lower sperm count than those who watched almost none.

Environmental Exposures: Pesticides, heavy metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics can harm sperm production. Research from the University of Copenhagen linked exposure to phthalates (found in many consumer products) to reduced sperm quality.

Heat Exposure: Frequent use of hot tubs, saunas, or even placing laptops on laps can raise scrotal temperatures, impairing sperm production. Medical Conditions: Varicoceles (enlarged veins in the scrotum), infections, and hormonal imbalances can also be culprits.

Breaking the Stigma

Why don’t we hear more about male infertility? Perhaps because admitting to fertility issues can feel like a blow to masculinity. But let’s get one thing straight: fertility doesn’t define manhood. By staying silent, we do a disservice to ourselves and our partners.

Open communication is crucial. If conception isn’t happening after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse (or six months if she’s over 35), it’s time for both partners to get checked. A simple semen analysis can provide valuable insights.

Steps Towards Improvement

The good news is that many causes of male infertility are treatable or reversible. Here are some practical steps:

Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Quit smoking, limit alcohol, and maintain a balanced diet rich in antioxidants. Foods like walnuts, berries, and leafy greens can promote sperm health.

Exercise Wisely: Regular physical activity boosts overall health, but avoid overdoing it. Extreme exercise can negatively impact testosterone levels.

Mind the Heat: Keep things cool down there. Opt for loose-fitting underwear and avoid placing electronic devices on your lap.

Check Medications: Some prescriptions can affect fertility. Speak with a doctor about possible side effects. Environmental Awareness: Reduce exposure to toxins by using natural cleaning products and avoiding plastics labeled with recycling codes 3 or 7, which may contain harmful chemicals.

A Joint Journey: Time to Talk About It

Fertility challenges affect both partners emotionally and physically. By acknowledging that male infertility is a significant piece of the puzzle, couples can approach the issue as a team. Shared understanding fosters stronger relationships and more effective problem-solving.

It is high time we normalised discussions about male fertility. By shedding the stigma and opening up, we not only help ourselves but also support the women in our lives. After all, raising awareness is the first step towards finding solutions.

So, to all the men out there: let’s step up, get informed, and be proactive about our reproductive health. Fertility is not just a women’s issue, it is a human issue, and it takes two to tango

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Raising Women Magazine Issue 54 – October 2026

“Because you’re a girl.”
Four little words that have spent generations doing an extraordinary amount of damage. Apparently, ambition, intelligence and audacity were once considered rather unladylike.
Fortunately, the girls featured in our 54th edition missed that memo.
As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, we spotlight twelve remarkable girls rewriting the rules, while reminding ourselves that a girl should not need extraordinary achievements to deserve ordinary opportunities.
We also explore the expectations that complicate girlhood, the childhood wounds we carry into adulthood and, in my Find Her Light reflection, why the girl I once was might have a few lessons for the woman I have become.
Perhaps our greatest responsibility is not simply raising girls to conquer the world, but ensuring they never have to shrink themselves to belong in it.
Because you’re a girl?
What a wonderful reason to dream without limits.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 53 – September 2026

Apparently, saving the planet comes with a shopping list. Solar panels, electric cars, sustainable fashion and, preferably, a bank account that understands the assignment.

In Issue 53, our cover woman, Professor Joyashree Roy, challenges us to reconsider what sustainability really costs, who pays, and why the cheapest choices today may leave tomorrow’s generations with the bill.

But this issue is also about the invisible price tags attached to everyday life. From passport privilege and the cultural expectations of a “good woman” to motherhood, personal boundaries and the delicate art of enjoying life before finishing every task, we examine the systems shaping our choices.

We also celebrate women turning overlooked problems into extraordinary opportunities.

Perhaps progress begins when we stop asking only what things cost and start asking what they are worth.

A better world should not be a luxury reserved for those who can afford it.
Happy reading!

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Raising Women Magazine Issue 52 – September 2026

This issue asks a deceptively simple question: can we save the planet without making ordinary people pay the highest price?
Our cover star, Sascha Gabizon, brings that question sharply into focus, challenging us to think about climate action not only through carbon, but through fairness, access and gender. Because going green sounds wonderful until sustainability becomes something only the wealthy can afford.
Across these pages, we follow climate change into unexpected places. Into our wardrobes, our food, our cultural traditions and even the price of our morning coffee. We also continue our important First Daughters conversation, explore what women really mean when they speak about safety, and look at 111 Miss World contestants whose purpose projects remind us that beauty today carries increasingly bigger expectations.
This edition is ultimately about responsibility, but responsibility shared fairly.
Because saving our planet cannot become another luxury.
And perhaps the greenest future is one everyone can actually afford.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 051 – August 2026

Equal. Such a small word for such a complicated idea.

In this issue, we ask a question that feels almost impolite after decades of progress: women have more rights, education, income and influence than generations before us, but are we equal? We have travelled remarkably far, yet full global gender parity remains generations away. Apparently, equality is taking the scenic route.

Issue 51 looks beyond the equal sign to what equality actually feels like in women’s lives. We follow the money, the power and, importantly, the hours women still disproportionately spend caring. We also explore women’s old financial systems, workplace design, the soft life economy and the changing meaning of opportunity
.
Progress deserves celebration. But celebration should never make us complacent.

We have opened many doors.

Now we must ask what happens after women walk through them.

We are closer.

But are we there?
.

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Perhaps progress begins when we stop asking only what things cost and start asking what they are worth.

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Raising Women Magazine Issue 52 – September 2026

This issue asks a deceptively simple question: can we save the planet without making ordinary people pay the highest price?
Our cover star, Sascha Gabizon, brings that question sharply into focus, challenging us to think about climate action not only through carbon, but through fairness, access and gender. Because going green sounds wonderful until sustainability becomes something only the wealthy can afford.
Across these pages, we follow climate change into unexpected places. Into our wardrobes, our food, our cultural traditions and even the price of our morning coffee. We also continue our important First Daughters conversation, explore what women really mean when they speak about safety, and look at 111 Miss World contestants whose purpose projects remind us that beauty today carries increasingly bigger expectations.
This edition is ultimately about responsibility, but responsibility shared fairly.
Because saving our planet cannot become another luxury.
And perhaps the greenest future is one everyone can actually afford.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 051 – August 2026

Equal. Such a small word for such a complicated idea.

In this issue, we ask a question that feels almost impolite after decades of progress: women have more rights, education, income and influence than generations before us, but are we equal? We have travelled remarkably far, yet full global gender parity remains generations away. Apparently, equality is taking the scenic route.

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Progress deserves celebration. But celebration should never make us complacent.

We have opened many doors.

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But are we there?
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Raising Women Magazine Issue 050 – August 2026

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Raising Women Magazine Issue 049 – August 2026

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