Reproductive Endocrinologists Are the Gatekeepers for Male Infertility Care in North America: Results of a North American Survey on the Referral Patterns and Characteristics of Men Presenting to Male Infertility Specialists for Infertility Investigations

The survey of 4,287 men at North American male infertility centers showed that reproductive gynecologists are the main referrers for male infertility, with 59.7% of referrals. The men had an average age of 40, and their partners were 37 on average. Most men were Caucasian (53.4%), and before seeking infertility investigations, 12.1% had tried IUI and 4.9% had undergone IVF. Notably, 0.9% of men used finasteride for hair loss, and 1.6% used testosterone. The study suggests that reproductive gynecologists are key in directing male infertility care, but some couples may undergo ART before thorough male infertility assessments. It also points to potentially reversible causes of infertility, such as the use of certain medications, that might be missed without proper specialist evaluation.