Couple-Based Treatment
Couple-based treatment is the evaluation and care of both partners together. It applies to infertility, when a couple cannot conceive. It also applies to recurrent pregnancy loss, when a couple has lost more than one pregnancy. A male factor is the only cause in about 20% of couples who cannot conceive.12 It contributes to the problem in another 30% to 40% of couples.2 An evaluation of the woman alone can miss many causes from the first visit.
Both partners matter because both bodies play a part. Cycle charts and female hormone tests show the woman's side. The man's side comes from a semen analysis, a test for sperm DNA damage, and male hormone tests. A couple needs both to see the whole picture.3
This approach also shares the burden of the process. When only one partner is the patient, that partner can end up carrying the burden alone. When both partners are checked, the search for answers belongs to both of them. Shared clinical visibility changes how couples experience the process.
Cited in this entry
- Schlegel PN, Sigman M, Collura B, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men: AUA/ASRM Guideline Part I. J Urol. 2021;205(1):36-43. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33295257/
- Schlegel PN, Sigman M, Collura B, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of infertility in men: AUA/ASRM guideline part I. Fertility and Sterility. 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33309062/
- Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion. https://rrmacademy.org/library/optimizing-natural-fertility-a-committee-opinion-rechyu5vnvihyqdwy/
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
