Male reproductive health research needs and research agenda: Asian and Pacific perspective

Enhancing male reproductive health, and increasing men’s participation in it, involves encouraging a range of positive reproductive health and social behaviour by men to help ensure women’s and children’s well‐being. More intellectual work–including research programmes–is urgently needed to clarify the conceptual framework for male reproductive health. At the Asia and the Pacific Symposium ‘Intra‐regional Cooperation in Reproductive Health Research’ (Shanghai, China, 12–13 October 1998) the Symposium participants identified regional research needs and recommended a regional reproductive health research agenda, which addresses six key issues related to male reproductive health: (i) male contraceptive technology; (ii) reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted diseases and male infertility; (iii) male involvement in reproductive health; (iv) male adolescent reproductive health; (v) male reproductive ageing; and (vi) environment and male reproductive health. One of the major challenges now facing us is the elaboration of a comprehensive, yet realistic, male reproductive health research agenda that reflects the needs and demands of Asian developing countries. Making full use of an interdisciplinary approach is of strategic importance to achieve this.