Male subfertility as a chronic illness: the role of adaptive challenges

Abstract

Male factor infertility (MFI) is extremely common, often with several associated chronic health conditions. Because a man’s fertility assessment may be their first contact with health services, the health care team has a responsibility to act as male health advocates to ensure comprehensive care. The diagnosis of subfertility allows a broader view of these men as patients with a chronic illness who have complex health needs. Because of the associated complexity of care following evaluation, there needs to be new approach in how men affected by MFI should be managed long term. In this commentary, we propose that the Adaptive Leadership Framework model for Chronic Illness is a suitable vehicle to use for management of the MFI patient’s journey towards optimized health.

Keywords:

• Male factor infertility
• chronic illness
• stress
• adaptive challenges adaptive leadership framework

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH P30NR014139), S.L. Docherty and D.E. Bailey Jr., principal investigators, Duke University School of Nursing.