Whilst we have come a long way in breaking down the silence around infertility, conversations around male infertility and male fertility issues are still broadly undiscussed. Common perception and assumptions around infertility are that it's a 'woman's issue', but it's estimated that 7% of all men are impacted by infertility; and an estimated one in seven couples in the UK experience infertility which highlights the huge gap in how often people are navigating these emotional and physical challenges, in comparison to how much they are talked about. *

Two men who have personally navigated this in their lives are hosts of The Male Fertility Podcast Ciaran Hannington and Shaun Greenaway, who met through sharing their infertility experiences online, and decided to try and be the resource and help that neither of them could find when they needed it. Shaun and Ciaran talk about how the impact of infertility is limitless and puts pressure on mental health, relationships, self-esteem and self confidence; and how it brings up so many questions in relation to being a partner, fatherhood, masculinity and vulnerability. In this conversation they are both so honest about their own experiences - from being told for the first time that they were experiencing low sperm count and azoospermia ( the medical condition of a man whose semen contains no sperm ) through to decision making, medical treatments, the impact on their mental health and relationships, sperm donation and creating their families.

Trigger Warning - This episode contains reference to suicide.

* figures taken from The Infertility Awareness Report 2024

Follow Shaun on Instagram at @knackered_knackers

Follow Ciaran on Instagram at @themalefertilitypt

Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram @themalefertilitypodcast

This series has been brought to you by the luxury sexual wellness brand Lelo, who are offering listeners 30% off all Lelo products purchased on BeautyBay.com Use the code KMOYLE30 until 11.59pm on 31st December 2024.

The Sexual Wellness Sessions is hosted by Kate Moyle, a Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist and Certified Psycho-Sexologist, and author of The Science Of Sex : Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered.

Follow Kate on Instagram at @KateMoyleTherapy

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast, and always seek the advice of your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider.

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