Once taboo, men in Asia increasingly turn to fertility treatments

Better access to care and eroding prejudices give hope to childless couples

20190507 in vitro

A Tokyo fertility clinic conducts in vitro fertilization: Treatment for male infertility is becoming more common in Japan. (Photo by Keiichiro Sato)

CHIHIRO MATSUTOMI, NORIYUKI TAKADA, Nikkei staff writers and WILLIAM MELLOR, contributing writer

TOKYO/HONG KONG -- Infertility is often seen as a problem for women in some of the Asia Pacific’s more conservative societies, but medical science begs to differ and men in the region are waking up to the fact that it affects them as well.

Men account for nearly half of all cases of infertility, according to the World Health Organization. A 2017 report found that 24% of infertility cases were attributed to the male partner, and another 24% were due to problems with both partners.

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