Male experience of infertility: a sociological analysis of male points of view

Abstract

Since modern research on infertility in sociology is focused mainly on women, men are excluded from the fertility equation, although studies show that men also suffer from infertility, but research for men is insufficient, since in domestic sociological studies very little has been studied the experience of infertility from the point of view of men. In the article, using a qualitative method based on the study of the experience of infertility from the point of view of men, the «snowball» method selected thirteen involuntarily childless men aged 26-52 years in Kazakhstan, and identified the problems that led to male infertility, were considered on the basis of in-depth interviews. The purpose of the study contribute to a better understanding of the social and historical roots of male childlessness by identifying current issues that contribute to men's reproductive health. Significance of the study the data and research presented in the article are scientific and new, since models of forced childlessness of men of reproductive age have not been studied in domestic sociology before, therefore, for a deeper understanding of this problem, it is important to study the infertile experience of men.

Thus, male infertility is closely related to various social factors, therefore, in domestic sociology, it is necessary to reassess the priorities of social research and health care in order to reflect the impact of infertility on the family and society.

Key words: sociology, infertility, male infertility, forced childlessness, the path to childlessness, social stigma, men's health.