Advocating for Your Partner: What Milspouses Need to Know About Male Fertility Tests

About half of all infertility cases involve male infertility, yet many men don’t get evaluated until their partners have already undergone multiple tests. This November’s Men’s Health Awareness Month is a good time to add fertility to men’s health checklists.

For military families, getting a diagnosis may be only the first hurdle. TRICARE covers medically necessary testing and treatment of underlying physical causes of infertility, but generally excludes assisted reproductive technology (ART), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Why Male Infertility Belongs in Every Fertility Conversation

One-third of infertility stems from male factors alone, according to reproductive health experts. Common causes include:

• Low sperm count or poor sperm motility
• Abnormal sperm form, known as morphology
• Testosterone or other hormone imbalances
• Blockages in the reproductive tract

Heat exposure to the testes and certain environmental toxins are also recognized infertility risk factors, based on a 2026 Congressional Research Service report.

Pentagon data also challenge the idea that infertility is a women’s health issue. From 2013 to 2021, male service members accounted for 1.05 percentage points of the overall 1.54% infertility prevalence rate among active-duty personnel, compared with 0.49 percentage points for female service members, according to a 2024 Defense Department study. Men fill most of the force’s ranks, so that share partly tracks headcount.

Male fertility testing often starts with a semen analysis, which checks sperm count, movement, and shape. It is one of the simplest first steps, and some preliminary testing may be available through mail-in kits, though these do not replace a full evaluation by a healthcare provider. When doctors evaluate men for infertility, they find serious undiagnosed conditions, including cancers, in 1 to 6 percent of patients.

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Reducing the Stigma Around Male Infertility

The belief that fertility belongs solely to women is one of the biggest misconceptions keeping men out of exam rooms. Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, notes that normalizing these evaluations is critical for proactive care.

“Fertility cannot remain a conversation women are expected to carry alone,” Melfi said. “If we want healthier families and healthier relationships, men need to be part of the conversation from the very beginning.”

To help navigate the emotional toll of diagnosis and treatment, advocacy groups and organizations run support groups for men and couples across the country.

What Male Fertility Services Does TRICARE Cover?

When medically necessary, TRICARE covers the diagnosis and treatment of physical causes of infertility. Coverage for male infertility care breaks down this way.

TRICARE's extended benefits may cover ART for eligible active-duty service members whose ability to procreate was affected by a qualifying serious or severe illness or injury incurred while on active duty. Certain enrolled spouses and unmarried partners may also qualify.

Other beneficiaries may be able to access ART services at participating military hospitals at reduced cost. Check with your regional contractor or military treatment facility before receiving services, since eligibility requirements and preauthorization rules vary.

How TRICARE’s Coverage Gaps Affect Military Families

The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that one IVF cycle costs $15,000 to $20,000 and can exceed $30,000.

Respondents to the 2025 Military Family Building Survey ranked limited TRICARE fertility coverage as their top military-related barrier to having children. One Army veteran, whose infertility was linked to toxic exposure, faced years of costly IUI and IVF treatments with his wife before they welcomed their daughter through donor eggs.

Dr. Micah Hill, a retired Army colonel and professor of gynecologic surgery and obstetrics at the Uniformed Services University, said:

“For over two decades, I have seen firsthand the barriers military families face when seeking fertility treatment, which are compounded by a broader lack of awareness and understanding of male infertility itself.”

The Bipartisan IVF for Military Families Act (H.R. 6797), introduced in December 2025, aims to expand fertility treatment coverage for eligible active-duty families. A separate provision in the House-passed FY2027 defense bill would extend assisted reproductive technology coverage to active-duty service members, selected reservists, and their dependents. The Senate committee's version did not include similar coverage, although Sen. Tammy Duckworth later submitted a related amendment. Neither proposal has become law.

Where Military Families Can Find Fertility Care and Resources

Military families seeking fertility care have several places to turn for guidance. Here’s where to start:

• Start with your primary care manager. Discuss fertility testing for both partners and, if results indicate a possible male fertility issue, ask about a referral to a urologist who specializes in male infertility.
• Look into military fertility clinics. Eight military hospitals, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, offer assisted reproductive technology services on a space-available, cost-sharing basis.
• Check the new sperm-freezing pilot. Launched Sept. 14, the Cryopreservation Demonstration Program reimburses up to $500 a year for active-duty members facing hazardous duty orders or separations of 180 days or more.
• Appeal denials and ask about discounts. Clinics often offer military discounts and payment plans, and you can appeal denied claims.

Early answers about male infertility give couples time to plan treatment around PCS orders and deployments. Military families can also follow the FY2027 defense authorization process for updates on proposed TRICARE fertility coverage expansions.