Can Trouble Getting Your Partner Pregnant Be a Warning Sign for Your Heart?

A major new study says it might be. Researchers in Australia tracked over 445,000 fathers and found that men diagnosed with male infertility were significantly more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes within just 5 years — even after accounting for other health factors.

Infertile men developed high blood pressure at a rate of 70 per 1,000, compared to 41 per 1,000 in fertile men. For diabetes, it was 28 vs. 16 per 1,000. The strongest link was with diabetes (28% higher risk) and non-ischemic heart disease (26% higher risk). Stroke and heart attacks, however, showed no significant difference..

What does this really mean? Male infertility and heart-related conditions appear to share the same root causes — things like low testosterone, obesity, poor diet, smoking, and lack of exercise. So infertility may not just be a reproductive problem; it could be an early signal that something deeper is going on in the body.

The big takeaway here is about opportunity. Since men rarely visit doctors on their own, a fertility clinic visit may be one of the few chances to catch serious health risks early. The study's authors suggest that when a man is being evaluated for infertility, doctors should also screen him for heart disease and diabetes — because catching these conditions early could genuinely save lives.

Nearly Half of Women Have This Problem — And Most Don't Talk About It

Sexual problems in women are far more common than most people think — and this major study found that almost 1 in 2 married women are affected. Researchers surveyed 400 married women between the ages 18-50, and found that 46% had some form of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) — meaning real, measurable problems with desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, or pain during sex.

Desire problems topped the list at 45%, followed closely by pain (42%), orgasm difficulties (42%), satisfaction issues (44%), and lubrication problems (41%). What's more, the risk grew sharply with age — only 22% of women under 20 were affected, but that number jumped to 75% in women aged 40-50.

The study also identified several key risk factors. Women over 40, those married 10+ years, those with 3 or more children, and unemployed women were significantly more likely to have FSD. Having sex fewer than 3 times a week and having an older husband (40+) also raised the risk.

Perhaps most concerning: many women never brought it up with their doctor — likely due to embarrassment or cultural stigma. The researchers concluded that FSD is a serious public health issue that doctors need to actively screen for, rather than waiting for women to speak up first.

This week, someone asked me, “Am 38 and a virgin male what should I do”. First, please know there is nothing “wrong” with you for being a virgin at 38. People reach intimacy and relationships at very different times in life, and your value is not defined by sexual experience. My advice is to focus less on “catching up” and more on building confidence, connection, communication, and comfort with yourself and potential partners. Take care of your physical and mental health, learn about healthy intimacy, and don’t let shame or comparison control your self-worth. Meaningful and satisfying relationships can absolutely begin at any age.

I love hearing from you, so if there’s a question you’ve been wanting to ask, just let me know. Who knows? Your question might be the one I dive into next!

I underwent surgery last week for my breast cancer - a lumpectomy and bilateral breast reconstruction. I’ve been spending quality time with my family, staying active and resting adequate amounts and hoping for the best while I wait on the pathology from my surgery. Thanks so much for all your well wishes - they have really uplifted my spirits.

I dove into a super common but often misunderstood issue—why so many guys wake up at night to pee, and why it's not just about “getting older” or prostate problems. "Waking up at night to pee is something you don't have to accept, and there are options to help you, whether it's lifestyle changes or things we can help you with at the doctor's office."

Here are a few quick tips:

Find out more in the episode and remember, there’s help for this—don’t just live with it!

I just answered your burning health and sex questions in plain English. Trust me, you’ll feel seen! “There’s nothing wrong with you. This is completely normal physiology that’s happening because you just gave birth.”

Here are a few takeaways:

So listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here and see why people are commenting, “Thank You Love Dr. Malik! For your knowledge work 👀🧠📚👍”.

Trying to understand male fertility beyond the myths? Check out my new Substack: What Every Man Should Know About Fertility: Urologist Insights on Semen Analysis.

In this article, I break down what semen analysis really measures, the everyday habits that can impact sperm health, and why male fertility deserves a much bigger part of the conversation.