Educating the next generation: Male fertility awareness starts young

While conversations around reproductive health often focus on women, male fertility is still surrounded by myths, stigma, and silence. Many young men still assume fertility is solely a woman’s concern. But male factors contribute to 40–50 percent of infertility cases. Despite this, male infertility remains poorly understood, often ignored due to societal stigmas and lack of awareness. Dr Krishna Chaitanya M, Scientific Head, Oasis Fertility, says, “Adding to the complexity, an increasing number of couples are delaying parenthood due to career ambitions and personal goals. This trend makes early fertility education critical—not just for prevention, but for informed and empowered reproductive choices. The effects of untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on male fertility are also underrepresented in mainstream education, even though they can cause long-term damage to reproductive health. That’s why it’s crucial to introduce fertility discussions during adolescence. Starting early helps dispel harmful myths, normalise conversations, and encourage young men to take control of their reproductive health.” This call highlights the urgent need for early education on reproductive health and wellness, especially when seen against the backdrop of rising infertility rates in India.In India—and particularly in Telangana—the rising infertility rates are alarming. Recent data shows that around 15percent of couples in Telangana are affected by infertility. Nationally, an estimated 15–20 million couples face infertility challenges, with male infertility being a significant but overlooked contributor.Fertility education is a key part of comprehensive sex and relationship education, as it equips young people to have informed conversations with partners, healthcare providers, and eventually their own children. Effective male fertility education should cover reproductive biology, the impact of age and lifestyle on sperm health, risks from toxins and heat, and fertility preservation. Schools and colleges must treat male fertility as a core topic, breaking myths and building awareness early.A multi-pronged approach can broaden the reach and deepen the impact via technology and media, community programmes, etc. However, there are challenges while incorporating fertility education into mainstream discourse. While teaching such concepts, language must be carefully chosen to avoid causing anxiety or guilt. Teachers need appropriate training to address this sensitive topic with accuracy and compassion. There is also a need for ongoing research to measure the long-term effectiveness of these educational interventions.Furthermore, involving young people in developing educational content, especially fertility education, is another powerful strategy, as they ensure materials are relevant, engaging, and impactful. They understand the platforms, language, and concerns of their peers—making them vital partners in shaping the future of fertility education.In this regard, Oasis Fertility, a trusted leader in fertility care especially for men, with over 31 advanced centres across 19 Indian cities, has launched a unique initiative—the “Happy Fathers-to-Be” campaign—in line with the theme “Healthy Man, Happy Father” for Father’s Day. This initiative challenges stigma by emphasising that fertility is a shared responsibility and aims to encourage men to participate actively in the fertility journey by offering personalised counselling and comprehensive support covering medical, nutritional, and lifestyle aspects.Offering more than a 65 percent IVF success rate—well above the global average—powered by cutting-edge technology, ethical practices, and expert medical teams, Oasis Fertility has successfully assisted in the birth of more than 100000 healthy children thanks to its advanced technology, meticulous scientific methods, and compassionate care. It follows ethical, transparent practices to ensure clear communication and fair pricing, allowing patients to know what to expect.As part of the initiative, Oasis Fertility is offering free semen analysis for traffic police personnel, along with free fertility screening assessments across all its centres in Telangana on June 13. More importantly, it hosts interactive educational sessions that demystify infertility, debunk common myths, and promote awareness about factors such as age, stress, diet, sleep, environmental toxins, and delayed parenthood. Male infertility is largely driven by modern-day stress, sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, exposure to pollutants, and digital device overuse.To conclude, educating boys and young men about fertility is a proactive investment in gender equity, reproductive autonomy, and public health. To prevent infertility, the main goal is to develop awareness of fertility, reproductive health, early diagnosis, etc., among people, thereby making them knowledgeable and health conscious. Through initiatives like ‘Happy Fathers-to-Be Day’, Oasis Fertility is helping normalise conversations around male fertility, foster early awareness, and support future fathers in making informed choices. The sooner we begin or implement fertility education, the stronger the foundation of future families will be.