Infertility still seen as a female problem

A MORI poll commissioned by the National Infertility Awareness Campaign has shown that men have a poor understanding of their own fertility and they still largely assume that where a couple has problems conceiving, it is the woman who is to blame. The study asked 1500 men and women a number of questions about fertility and infertility.

It found that 70 per cent of men associated infertility with women and half of them though that infertility was too embarrassing to discuss with friends or colleagues. MORI also found that perceptions of fertility - of both men and women - are often wrong. Only four per cent, for example, knew that normal chances of conception each month are only 25 per cent.

Women are particularly guilty of overestimating their chances of conceiving. Despite the lack of awareness of the incidence of infertility in the population, 50 per cent of those asked thought that male infertility is a serious health issue needing medical treatment. But one in 10 men said they would not know where to go for help if they found that they had a fertility problem.

The National Infertility Awareness campaign is using the findings to show that Britain has a long way to go before adequate services for sexual health - and awareness of the existence of those services - are in place. Despite falling sperm counts, the NHS provides treatment for only 10-20 per cent of those in need of it.