Japanese husbands who have kept silent about the embarrassment of undergoing infertility treatment are swallowing their pride and beginning to speak out.

More of them are attending meet-and-greet support groups for men with similar problems, and even a recently published book compiling the various experiences of men who are struggling to conceive with their spouses is striking a chord.

"I began to worry that not being able to make a baby meant that I was inadequate as a man, and because of that I felt like I couldn't talk to anyone about seeking treatment," said a 39-year-old from the Kanto region who has been undergoing infertility treatment for about seven years.