The Male Fertility Podcast

In this episode of The Male Bag, host Shaun answers your most pressing questions about his journey as a sperm donor recipient father. Drawing from his personal experience, Shaun addresses six common themes that emerged from questions submitted via email, Instagram, and the NeXYs Fertility support community.

Episode Highlights:

 In this powerful episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, hosts Shaun and Ciaran welcome Natalie Silverman and Becky Kearns, co-founders of Fertility Matters at Work. This Community Interest Company is dedicated to improving fertility support in workplaces across the UK and beyond. Both guests bring their personal fertility journeys and professional expertise to the conversation, creating a compelling discussion about the challenges faced by employees undergoing fertility treatment and how employers can better support them.

Key Topics Discussed:

Welcome to the very first Male bag episode of The Male Fertility Podcast! In these episodes, we will answer your questions about male fertility. If you have a question you'd like answered, please email: themalefertilitypodcast@gmail.com.

This episode covers:

Is a mother's instinct innate while fathers have to learn? Evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin joins us to debunk this myth and dive deep into the fascinating science behind fatherhood.

In this episode, Dr. Machin reveals:

The Myth of Maternal Instinct: Both men and women undergo significant hormonal and brain changes to prepare for parenthood. Men do have parenting instincts – trust them!

The Fatherhood Transition: While it might take dads longer to settle into their role (around 18 months vs. 9 for moms), this could be due to societal factors and lack of opportunity, not in...

We're back for Season 4 of The Male Fertility Podcast, and what better way to kick off than with a special episode for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month? This time, we're joined by two brilliant guests: former professional footballer Henri Lansbury and fertility expert Professor Allan Pacey.

Henri shares his powerful personal story, from discovering a lump by accident to the whirlwind journey of diagnosis and surgery. His honesty about the fear, waiting game, and emotional aftermath will strike a chord with so many of you. Prof. Allan brings his wealth of medical knowledge, reminding us why early detection...

In this powerful series finale, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Frank Fallon to discuss his journey through male factor infertility, successful ICSI treatment, and what life looks like after.

Frank and his wife faced male factor infertility before achieving success on their first round of ICSI. Determined to understand his diagnosis, Frank pursued additional NHS tests, which ultimately revealed an abnormal varicocele. Despite the NHS declining further testing, Frank improved his fertility health through dietary changes and supplements like Impryl, eventually achieving results in the healthy range.

Frank shares his experience on the M...

In this episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran sit down with Carl Tracey to discuss his fertility journey—the challenges, emotions, and lessons learned along the way.

Carl shares how he and his wife Catherine struggled to conceive for two years before seeking medical help. He opens up about the confusion of receiving his semen analysis results, which revealed low sperm count, poor motility, and abnormal morphology. He describes the frustration, denial, and eventual acceptance that followed, including the discovery of a minor varicocele.

Carl reflects on the emotional impact of infertility, ho...

On today’s episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Josh Coulson to talk about his ongoing fertility story.

Josh opens up about his story which started back in 2020 after trying to conceive for a year with his wife and nothing happening. Josh, like a lot of people, assumed that this was a female problem, but when they were both referred to a clinic, he soon found out that there was a whole other world he was not aware of.

He shares what he has been through up to this po...

In this episode of the Male Fertility Podcast, Toby Burns joins Shaun and Ciaran to share his story.

The guys talk about the strain infertility placed on Toby’s relationship, and how he and his wife supported each other through the hardest times. When they finally opened up to others, it led to unexpected discoveries—Toby’s younger brother also carries the cystic fibrosis gene which is what caused Tony's own fertility issues.

Today, after a long and challenging journey, Toby and his wife are blessed to have a daughter. He now focuses on supporting other...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, Shaun and Ciaran are delighted to be joined by Yiannis Christodoulou, a triathlete for Great Britain, who is here to talk about his infertility journey.

Yiannis shares that his sister went through IVF, so he was aware that people can struggle to conceive, but he assumed he and his wife would fall pregnant naturally and easily.

Yiannis talks about his low motility and how he was not given much support or any clear advice. Some of the advice he did receive was counter productive to his extensive tr...

Joining us this week on The Male Fertility Podcast is Tony Suckling - here to share his long and emotional fertility journey.

After years of trying to conceive with his wife with no success, Tony decided to take a basic sperm test. The results showed a low sperm count, prompting him to make lifestyle changes in the hope of improving it.

When nothing worked, they turned to a fertility clinic. At their first consultation, Tony was told they wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally.

Tony shares how the clinic’s focus was sole...

In this week’s episode, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Marc Bear to talk about his long fight with infertility. From the initial assumption that starting a family would “just happen” to confronting the reality of an infertility diagnosis, Marc shares the highs and lows of his path to fatherhood.

After years of trying to conceive he was eventually diagnosed with Klinefelter Syndrome. The diagnosis was both a revelation and a challenge, helping him make sense of his childhood experiences while presenting new hurdles in his journey to become a father.

Missteps along the way, i...

This week on The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran sit down with Matt to hear his deeply personal story of navigating male infertility.

After trying and failing to conceive, Matt and his wife went to the GP - however, it was only his wife that was referred for tests.

A whole year and a half later, Matt was finally referred for a sperm test. Sadly he was initially misdiagnosed with a low count, whereas it later transpired that they'd misread his results....he actually had no sperm.

He reflects on how common...

Welcome to a new episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, where we're joined by another guy sharing his story to help others.

This week, we chat with Rob as he shares his personal journey through infertility.

After months of trying to conceive, Rob and his partner initially received a misdiagnosis of PCOS. Frustrated and searching for answers, Rob took it upon himself to have a sperm test, and the adverse results led him to speak to Dr. Jonathon Ramsay, who identified a varicocele, and diagnosed Rob with high DNA fragmentation following examination and testing.

Hello and welcome back to another episode of The Male Fertility Podcast! We are so delighted to be sharing this series with you as this one is all about giving a voice to the audience.

And to kick start the series off, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Sean Farrell, who has been listening to the podcast since he started on his fertility quest. And crucially, he is still going through it at the moment.

Sean shares how he received his test results of a sperm analysis over the phone, and that they gave him...

So, here we are, the final episode of Series 2. And to celebrate that, Shaun and Ciaran met up to record their first ever in-person episode.

This episode looks back on each episode from the series, and sees the lads reflect on the advice and knowledge that was shared by each expert guest. The boys unpick the information, and share their key takeaways from each episode, as well as summarising the information that each guest brought.

Shaun and Ciaran also talk about the next series that is on the horizon, and what is in store for...

This week, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Professor Allan Pacey MBE to talk all things male fertility. What Allan doesn't know in this field isn't worth knowing!

Allan is the Professor of Andrology at the University of Manchester as well as Deputy Vice President and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology. For 17 years he was the Head of Andrology for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals where he ran the Andrology Laboratory and Sperm Bank. As an academic he has published over 250 research papers, book chapters and review articles.

In 2016 he received an MBE from Queen...

This week we talk to Robin Hadley about involuntary male childlessness.

Robin is a leading expert on the psychological and societal impact of male childlessness. He completed his Masters on the subject, and has subsequently written several academic papers on the topic, as well as his critically acclaimed book on the subject.

Shaun, Ciaran and Robin discuss the complexities of being a man, and being childless-not-by-choice. We delve into how childless men are viewed and treated, as well as the societal expectations that weigh heavily on the shoulders of men from when they are young.<...

*Warning - this episode includes discussions on pregnancy loss and miscarriage*

In this week’s episode, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Jackie Stewart, an accredited independent counsellor who specialises in fertility counselling.

We discuss miscarriage and pregnancy loss, specifically the impact it has on men - who are so often forgotten in this scenario. Ciaran shares his own experience with pregnancy loss, how he felt, and the mixed emotions that he experienced as a result.

We explore the fear that comes with trying to get pregnant again following a loss, and how it...

On this episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by leading expert in fertility, Dr Tim Child.

Having previously focused heavily on male infertility, what that means, the treatments available, and how to process it - the conversation around what happens next is a crucially important one for the podcast.

Ciaran and Shaun talk to Dr Child about the process of IVF, from the initial tests your doctor will do beforehand, right through to embryo transfer. We discuss what 'long' and 'short' protocols are, and whether one is better than the...

This week on The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by specialist fertility counsellor, Tracey Sainsbury.

Tracey is a specialist fertility counsellor, dedicated to providing compassionate support and guidance to individuals and couples navigating the complexities of fertility challenges. She is an advisory board member for various organisations and charities. Beyond these advisory roles, Tracey is a respected trainer for both the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) and the Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology (CICS), where she shares her wealth of knowledge and experience with fellow professionals, fostering a community committed to excellence i...

This episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by senior fertility nurse specialist, Francesca Steyn. Francesca is the Clinical Services Manager at the Wales Fertility Institute. She has over 18 years of experience in the sector, and is the current chair of The Royal College of Nurses' Fertility Nursing Forum.

What is a Fertility Nurse?:

Francesca talks about the vital role fertility nurses play, and why they are so important to patients going through fertility struggles. She explains how they are the glue that holds everything together - nurses are at the...

In this week’s episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Melanie Brown, one of the leading nutritionists in the fertility world. She has worked with some of the leading clinics and professionals in the UK fertility industry, and is currently writing a book on how to improve male fertility with the urologist and male fertility expert, Jonathan Ramsay, and the mens health expert Dr Anand Patel.

For her Masters, her final thesis researched the effect of obesity and diet on male fertility. She feels strongly that male factor infertility is very po...

In this episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Emma Whitney, the Director of Embryology and Genetics at The Evewell Clinic, to talk all about embryologists and the vital work they do.

Emma Whitney is the Director of embryology and genetics at The Evewell group in London. With over 20 years of practical IVF laboratory experience, Emma specialises in pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos with a passion to prevent the transmission of inherited genetic disease and enhancing the capabilities of embryo selection. 

Emma’s commitment to genetics, coupled with her multitude of exp...

The Male Fertility Podcast is back and to kick start this series, in this episode, Shaun and Ciaran are joined by Oliver Wiseman, a Consultant Urologist based at Cambridge University Hospitals and Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic.

Both Shaun and Ciaran saw Oliver when they were going through their fertility treatment.

He is very experienced in the management of male infertility, and he runs many training courses teaching other Urologists.

Shaun and Ciaran talk to Oliver about what a Urologist is, what they do, and why men who are...

The Male Fertility Podcast returns to your ears with Series 2! 

This series, Shaun and Ciaran are being joined by different professionals to have a chat and to ask the questions that they themselves wanted to when they were going through their fertility chapter. 

The Intro Episode

This intro episode, Ciaran and Shaun chat about what Series 1 was like, from the initial episode to the last one, the lads talk about how it took months in the planning and now it has gone past in a blink of an eye. 

Shaun and Cia...

Welcome to last episode in this series of The Male Fertility Podcast! It has been quite an adventure for both Shaun and Ciaran. From talking about the initial diagnosis to fatherhood, the lads have talked about a variety of different things and now to finish this series of, they are joined by their lovely wives, Jennifer and Jenna.

The Partner Perspective

Jennifer and Jenna talk about what it was like from their perspective as Ciaran and Shaun were going through their fertility story. Jennifer talks about her own fertility story, and attending appointments without Ciaran...

As we draw close to the end of this series, Shaun and Ciaran talk about pregnancy and fatherhood.  In this episode, they talk about their experiences with pregnancy, birth and then after birth, discussing the emotions that they went through and how they overcame the obstacles they faced.

The Two Week Wait & Communication

Shaun and Ciaran talk about the two week wait, and how it was from a male’s perspective. Talking about the ups and downs, how they coped. Later on in the episode, the lads discuss the importance of talking and communicating with you...

In this episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, Ciaran and Shaun dive into lifestyle habits that can affect your fertility. In this information packed episode, the lads talk about reducing the stressors in your life and where to actually make a start.

Exercising and Fertility:

Ciaran starts off by talking about how exercising is not only good for your health but also for your fertility. He explains that you don't need to do intense training, and that doing low to moderate, such as going for a 40 minute walk, can be really beneficial.

Diet...

Join Shaun and Ciaran in this episode of The Male Fertility Podcast as they delve into the important topic of mindset when facing infertility, and crucially, how they came to accept what they were going through. Discover how embracing a new mindset can lead to personal growth and becoming a better version of yourself.

Acceptance

Shaun shares his personal journey of acceptance, discussing the unpredictable stages of grief and emphasising that they don't follow a specific order. The chaps explore the importance of learning to accept the new reality of infertility. Instead of dwelling on...

Welcome to the first episode of The Male Fertility Podcast in 2024! Join Shaun and Ciaran as they delve into the complexities of emotions and relationship strains encountered on the fertility journey.

Thoughts & Feelings:

In this episode, Shaun and Ciaran open up about the thoughts and feelings they experienced in relation to their partners. They candidly discuss emotions like guilt, shame, and embarrassment, exploring the impact these feelings had on their perception of letting their partners down.

Breaking the Stigma:

The duo addresses societal expectations that pressure men to...

Join Ciaran and Shaun as they talk about the pathways to parenthood. We are going to be talking about the options when it comes to assisted reproduction; the process of IVF, what ICSI is and what to expect. The guys also discuss alternate routes to parenthood, such as donor conception.

Options for Parenthood

We talk about the options that are available to you when you are on your path to parenthood. Some of those options are things like IVF and ICSI. Ciaran tells us what the differences are between them and why they are done...

In this episode, we delve into the crucial topic of the diagnosis — exploring the initial processing, seeking support, and addressing the pervasive silence that often surrounds male fertility issues.

Understanding the Diagnosis: Stages of Grief:

Shaun provides his perspective on the diagnosis, and then unravels the stages of grief that one might experience following that. He shares the emotional journey of going through these stages and the challenge of finding adequate support during such a vulnerable time.

"We are all in our own race" - Shaun

Acceptance and the Journey Forward:

Join us in Episode 3 as we tackle a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of male fertility — the shocking decrease in sperm count witnessed over recent years.

This episode on The Male Fertility Podcast aims to start a conversation about a topic that demands everyone's attention.

Exploring the Sperm Count Decline:

Delving into the alarming trend of decreasing sperm count, we shed light on a concern that requires immediate attention. The episode explores potential factors contributing to this decline, such as the impact of electronics and dietary habits. It's a call to action to ad...

Welcome back to Episode 2 of The Male Fertility Podcast, where we delve into the inspiring journey of Ciaran, exploring the hurdles he faced and overcame on his path to parenthood.

Ciaran's Fertility Journey:

Ciaran's story unfolds in 2011, when he and his partner Jen got married. Little did they anticipate the unexpected challenges that lay ahead when it came to their dreams of becoming parents. Ciaran shares the poignant moment of discovering his infertility diagnosis, unraveling the emotional turmoil that ensued.

Coping and Overcoming Obstacles:

In a candid conversation, Ciaran unveils his...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, where we embark on an inspiring journey with Shaun as he shares his personal experience with male infertility.

Shaun's Story:

Shaun's narrative begins in 2017 when he was confronted with a daunting diagnosis: Azoospermia, a condition characterised by a lack of sperm. He takes us through the arduous process of seeking answers to his diagnosis and how he coped with the overwhelming news.

The Varicocele diagnosis and operation (2019):

In 2019, Shaun faced another setback when he was diagnosed with Varicocele. He delves into...

Hello and a warm welcome to The Male Fertility Podcast, your go-to space for insightful discussions on male fertility, hosted by Ciaran and Shaun! We're thrilled to launch this podcast, and in this introductory episode, we share a bit about ourselves, our motivations, and what you can expect from the podcast.

About The Male Fertility Podcast:

Our mission is to make The Male Fertility Podcast a one-stop-shop of education, relatability, and support for all our listeners - as well as bringing some much needed laughter to the topic. Through sharing personal experiences and the stories...