A fertility check consists of hormone tests, ultrasound scans, semen analysis, and a simple lifestyle assessment. These tests provide a clear picture of your reproductive health so you can protect your fertility before problems become serious.

New Delhi: Currently, even if you are not planning for a baby, a fertility check can help you understand your reproductive health, detect hidden issues early, and make informed decisions for the future. So, get going and ensure that to understand the status of your fertility health. Dr. Rupali Tambe, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Lullanagar, Pune, spoke about the importance of fertility checks, even when not planning a baby.

Why Fertility Checks Matter for Everyone

Fertility checks are important for everyone. There is a misconception that fertility tests are only needed when they are actively trying to conceive. However, understanding your reproductive health early can prevent surprises and shocks later in life. So, factors like stress, irregular sleep, smoking, alcohol, poor diet, long working hours, and hormonal imbalances are hurting the fertility in youngsters. A fertility check-in does not mean you must plan a pregnancy; it simply helps you understand how your body is functioning today and what you may need to plan for the future.

What a Fertility Check Includes
A fertility check consists of hormone tests, ultrasound scans, semen analysis, and a simple lifestyle assessment. These tests provide a clear picture of your reproductive health so you can protect your fertility before problems become serious.

Why a Fertility Check Matters Even Without Baby Plans
There can be hidden issues, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), low ovarian reserve, thyroid problems, endometriosis, and poor sperm quality may not show obvious symptoms but can be concerning. Detecting them early helps prevent long-term complications.

Fertility tends to be impacted with age in both men and women. Women’s egg reserves decline naturally after 30, and men may also see reduced sperm quality with age. A check-in gives clarity on where you stand today.

Knowing your fertility health allows you to make informed choices, whether you want a baby in two years or ten. It also helps you explore options like egg freezing or sperm banking if necessary. Fertility tests often reveal hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, or lifestyle concerns that affect overall well-being, not just pregnancy.

Tips for Protecting Fertility Even If You’re Not Trying for a Baby

1. Make sure to maintain an optimum weight by exercising every day without fail
2. Eat a balanced diet loaded with fruits, vegetables, and protein
3. Quit smoking and alcohol
4. De-stress by doing yoga and meditation, or practice any hobby like painting, gardening, or photography that you like
5. Get a sound sleep daily of at least 8-9 hours
6. Avoid excessive heat exposure to the testes (for men)
7. Track menstrual cycles and watch for irregularities (for women)
8. Seek medical help if you experience pain, irregular periods, low libido, or sexual dysfunction.

Understanding Your Body Today for a Healthier Tomorrow
A fertility check-in is not about planning a baby; it is also about understanding your body, protecting your reproductive health, and preparing for the future. Early information gives you better confidence when the time comes to start a family. So, taking care of your fertility today is an important step toward improved well-being. Stay in touch with the fertility consultant and follow the advice given by them without fail.

Male infertility accounts for nearly half of all conception challenges, yet many couples are pushed into in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) before simple, treatable male factors are evaluated. A fertility expert warns that missed diagnoses lead to unnecessary, invasive and expensive treatments.

For years, infertility has been perceived as a predominantly female problem, a misconception that continues to influence how couples seek treatment. In reality, medical evidence shows that male-factor infertility plays an equally significant role in conception challenges. According to global estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), male infertility contributes to roughly 50% of infertility cases worldwide, either alone or in combination with female factors. Yet, despite this data, men are often not fully evaluated before couples are advised to undergo assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

This leads to a growing concern among fertility specialists about the rising number of couples undergoing expensive, invasive IVF cycles when the root cause, in many cases, is a treatable male reproductive issue. As one fertility expert, Dr. Anindita Singh, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Kolkata, notes, male factors such as low sperm count, poor motility, hormonal imbalance or simple anatomical issues like varicocele are often overlooked, pushing couples toward IVF prematurely.

Today, experts like Dr. Singh emphasise that a complete male fertility evaluation is not only medically prudent but ethically necessary. Early diagnosis can reduce unnecessary interventions, emotional distress and financial burden, helping couples achieve pregnancy naturally or with far less invasive treatment.

Male Infertility: A Major Yet Overlooked Contributor

Male-factor infertility is responsible for approximately 30% of infertility cases, and contributes alongside female factors in another 20-40%, meaning nearly half of infertility challenges stem from male reproductive health issues. Despite this, men are frequently the last to be investigated during fertility assessments, reinforcing long-standing gender biases.

The WHO and major reproductive health bodies like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) confirm that sperm-related issues, including low sperm count (oligospermia), absence of sperm (azoospermia), poor sperm motility, and morphology abnormalities, are among the most common causes of male infertility.

Simple, Treatable Issues Are Often Missed

Many causes of male infertility are completely treatable or manageable with targeted interventions. Yet couples are often pushed toward IVF without addressing the male partner's health first.

Dr. Singh highlights this clearly: "Sometimes male factors such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, male hormone imbalance, or even an easily treatable anatomical abnormality like varicocele may be overlooked so that the couple goes directly to IVF or ICSI."

Research supports this:

• Varicocele, a common condition affecting up to 15% of men, can significantly impair sperm production. Surgical repair often improves semen parameters and natural conception rates.
• Hormonal disorders such as low testosterone, elevated prolactin and pituitary dysfunction can be corrected with medication.
• Lifestyle factors like obesity, smoking, alcohol, heat exposure, stress can reduce sperm quality. Studies show improvements with weight management, smoking cessation and regular exercise.

When these reversible factors are not evaluated, couples may undergo IVF unnecessarily, subjecting women to hormonal stimulation, painful procedures and substantial costs.

Why IVF Should Not Be the First Step

IVF is a breakthrough treatment, but it is not always the correct first-line approach. Dr. Singh notes: "In many cases, the real cause is one that can be treated by medicine, lifestyle alteration, or a small operation. Failure to recognize this may result in couples entering the cycle of assisted reproduction, which may not solve the problem."

Leading reproductive bodies agree. ASRM recommends a full male fertility assessment BEFORE initiating IVF, including semen analysis, physical examination and relevant hormonal tests. NICE (UK) advises thorough evaluation of both partners before considering IVF.

Why Early Male Fertility Evaluation Is Critical

Failing to diagnose male infertility leads to:

• Unnecessary IVF cycles that may not address the underlying cause.
• Higher emotional and financial burden on couples.
• More invasive interventions for women, despite the issue originating in male reproductive health.

As Dr. Singh emphasises, "Making sure that men have gone through the right assessment can be a big time saver, and works against the build-up of unnecessary procedures."

Male infertility is common, highly treatable and too often overlooked. With nearly half of conception problems linked to male factors, experts insist that diagnosing and treating the male partner first is essential, before recommending IVF. Proper evaluation not only increases the chances of natural conception but also prevents avoidable emotional, physical and financial strain for couples. Fertility specialists like Dr. Singh agree: The best fertility journey begins with a comprehensive, unbiased assessment of both partners, not with premature IVF.

What is the scale of infertility and why does it matter?