My husband has gone quiet and ashamed since his semen report came back low. How can I support him?

This reaction is very common. Many men link fertility with masculinity, and in Indian families the focus is so often on the woman that a male factor diagnosis can come as a shock and feel deeply private. It can help to know, and to share with him, that male factor is a medical issue involved in around a third to half of couples' fertility difficulties. It isn't a reflection of strength or worth. Semen results can also vary considerably between samples, so a single report is usually repeated, and many causes, like varicocele, hormonal problems, infections, or lifestyle factors such as smoking, heat exposure and alcohol, can be assessed and sometimes improved. Even when counts stay low, treatments such as IUI or ICSI exist for this reason. Ways to support him: - Use 'we' language: this is something you're facing as a couple. - Respect his wish for privacy about who is told. - Suggest seeing a urologist or andrologist together, framed as getting more information rather than assigning blame. - Give him space, but check in gently. If his low mood lasts for weeks, he withdraws from daily life, or you're worried about his safety in any way, encourage him to see a doctor and seek urgent help from a mental-health helpline.