New Delhi: For decades, women have borne the social stigma and emotional burden of infertility in India, often facing blame from families and society alike. However, a major study conducted across 17 medical institutions has now dismantled this long-standing misconception, revealing that men are responsible for more than one in every four infertility cases.
The study, which analysed 2,414 women seeking infertility treatment between July 2023 and June 2025, found that male factors accounted for 27.3 per cent of infertility cases, while female factors were responsible for 36.9 per cent. In 9.7 per cent of cases, both partners contributed to infertility, while 26.1 per cent remained unexplained.
The findings, published on ResearchGate on March 23, 2026, underscore the growing but often ignored burden of male infertility in India.
Researchers found that abnormalities in sperm health were among the leading causes of male infertility. Nearly 36.4 per cent of affected men had abnormal sperm counts, while 23.4 per cent suffered from poor sperm motility, significantly reducing the chances of successful conception. Inflammation and damage to reproductive tissues were also common among infertile men.
The study further revealed that more than half of men with Grade-II reproductive impairment experienced a significant decline in sperm count, highlighting a worsening trend that experts link closely to modern lifestyles and environmental exposure.
According to researchers, a combination of smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, obesity, prolonged heat exposure from laptops and hot baths, air pollution, oxidative stress, advancing age, mental stress and depression is steadily eroding male reproductive health.
The study identified alcohol consumption as the single largest lifestyle risk factor, contributing to 23.9 per cent of male infertility cases. Sleep-related problems accounted for 17.3 per cent, followed by smoking at 12.9 per cent, excessive screen time at 9 per cent, heat exposure at 6.2 per cent, over-the-counter medication use at 5.1 per cent and chemical exposure at 4 per cent.
Detailed analysis showed that 23.4 per cent of affected men had sluggish sperm movement, 19.8 per cent suffered from reduced sperm production, while 15 per cent were found to have little or no sperm production at all.
Experts warn that male infertility is no longer a marginal issue. Current estimates indicate that male factors alone account for nearly 20 per cent of infertility cases in India and contribute to another 30-40 per cent alongside female factors. The financial burden is also rising sharply, with treatment costs for male infertility now approaching those associated with conditions such as endometriosis due to prolonged investigations and growing dependence on assisted reproductive technologies.
The findings come against the backdrop of a growing global infertility crisis. According to the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 17.5 per cent of adults worldwide — roughly one in six people — experience infertility during their lifetime. The report, based on a meta-analysis of more than 12,000 studies, found infertility rates remarkably similar across high-, middle- and low-income countries, underscoring that infertility is a universal public health challenge.
In India, data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) indicates that infertility affects nearly one-sixth of the reproductive-age population, with overall prevalence estimated at around 8 per cent. Primary infertility accounts for approximately 5 per cent of cases, while secondary infertility contributes about 2 per cent.
Health experts say the findings should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and society alike.
“Infertility is not solely a woman’s issue. The evidence clearly shows that male reproductive health deserves equal attention, screening and treatment,” researchers noted, adding that the social tendency to place the burden of infertility entirely on women is not only unfair but scientifically inaccurate.
As India’s fertility rate continues to decline and reproductive challenges mount, experts are calling for greater awareness, early screening of both partners and improved access to affordable fertility care — an area where most expenses are still borne directly by patients with little insurance support.
The study’s message is clear: when it comes to infertility, the blame game must end, and science must take centre stage.
(All Images: CANVA)
