Despite rising concern around reproductive decline in both humans and wildlife, male fertility remains critically underrepresented in research, diagnostics, and public discourse. In human reproductive medicine, female factors are rightly prioritised due to the biological constraints of ovarian ageing — yet male fertility is often assumed to be stable, secondary, or easily bypassed with assisted reproduction technologies. Similarly, in wildlife conservation and animal breeding programs, male reproductive assessments are frequently cursory, despite their importance to population viability and genetic management.
This presentation explores the shared cultural and scientific blind spots that contribute to the persistent marginalisation of the male factor across species. Drawing on clinical and laboratory experience in human and animal andrology, I reflect on how sperm deemed “normal” by conventional parameters — particularly motility — may carry significant functional impairments, including oxidative damage, DNA fragmentation, or poor fertilising capacity. Emerging insights from both clinical data and wildlife reproductive programs suggest that these overlooked factors can undermine reproductive success, even in cases where sperm appear morphologically or kinetically normal.
By challenging our reliance on reductionist semen analysis criteria and drawing attention to underutilised functional diagnostics, this talk advocates for a broader, more nuanced understanding of male fertility. Whether in the fertility clinic or the conservation lab, improving how we evaluate male gametes is essential to achieving successful, sustainable reproductive outcomes.