Supporting your partner during a fertility journey

Updated by the Progyny Editorial Team — October 2025. 

A fertility journey can be exhausting — physically and emotionally — and knowing how to support your partner can make a real difference. You can help ease their experience by offering both emotional and practical support. Below are a few ways to show up for one another as you navigate this process together. 

Offer emotional support 

Listen 
Your partner may need to talk about their experience — often and in depth. For many people, talking helps them process emotions. Simply listening, without offering advice or solutions, can be deeply validating. 

Ask what they need 
It’s a common misconception that partners should automatically understand each other’s needs. In reality, no one can read minds — even the most intuitive partner sometimes needs guidance. If your partner is going through fertility treatment, ask them what kind of support would feel most helpful right now. 

Adapt your lifestyle alongside them 
If your partner is going through treatment such as in vitro fertilization, there may be restrictions on things like alcohol or tobacco. Choosing to make similar adjustments can be an affirming and tangible way to show support. For example, if they’re not drinking, you might join them in abstaining. Even if they don’t ask you to do so, mirroring their lifestyle changes demonstrates care and shared commitment. 

Be engaged 
Fertility treatment can involve frequent appointments, lab work, and tracking. Attending appointments when possible, taking notes, and helping remember questions for the doctor can relieve some of your partner’s mental load. Learning common fertility terms can also make communication easier and help you stay connected to what they’re experiencing. 

Offer logistical support 

Consider getting a semen analysis 
Infertility is not solely a female concern. Male infertility (including sperm-related issues) is the sole cause in about 20% of infertility cases in couples and is a contributing factor in up to about half of all cases. 

If your partner is undergoing treatment, having a semen analysis is a concrete way to support them and help rule out other contributing factors. A semen analysis measures semen volume and pH, as well as sperm concentration, shape, and movement — all of which can affect the ability of sperm to fertilize an egg. 

Get a blood test 
Blood testing can also identify possible causes of infertility. For example, follicle-stimulating hormone helps regulate sperm production, and luteinizing hormone supports testosterone production. Testing these, along with prolactin and androgens, can help clarify whether hormonal factors may be affecting fertility. 

Help keep things organized 
Fertility treatment often involves multiple medications, supplements, and appointments. Helping your partner manage schedules, reminders, or medication timing is a meaningful way to ease their burden. Your support helps create more space for them to rest and care for their emotional wellbeing throughout treatment. 

Whether it’s getting answers or finding additional resources, your Progyny Care Advocate is here to support you and your partner. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

Related Content

• Commonly Asked Questions about Infertility and Relationships | Progyny
• Progyny Webinar: Managing Emotional Exhaustion on a Family Building Journey
• Emotional Support + Awareness Archives | Progyny [Education page]

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