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

Tony’s story began in 2012, shortly after he and his wife got married. Like many couples, they believed getting pregnant would happen naturally. But after years of trying 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 hopes 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. He describes the heartbreak of hearing those words, and the isolation he felt in the aftermath.

Tony opens up about how the clinic’s focus was solely on his wife – despite him being the one with low sperm count. No further tests were done on him, leaving him feeling overlooked. He shares their experience with ICSI, detailing their first cycle and how he emotionally shut down, avoiding conversations and isolating himself.

After stepping away from the fertility world for a while, Tony and his wife decided to try again. He talks about finding support from Melanie and Johnathon – two people who became instrumental in helping him through the journey, unlike the clinic that offered little emotional support.

Tony then shares a deeply personal moment – his wife falling pregnant naturally, only to suffer a miscarriage at 7 weeks. The loss pushed them to seek out a new clinic in Spain, where they experienced exceptional care and compassion. Even when Covid prevented them from traveling to retrieve their embryos, the clinic stayed supportive. Last year, they were finally able to move forward – and now have a beautiful daughter.

Throughout the episode, Tony highlights the importance of opening up. He describes how talking to others became a form of therapy, helping him process the emotional weight of their journey. He also shares the impact of a DNA fragmentation test, which revealed critical insights that had previously been missed by their first clinic.

Tony and Ciaran reflect on their shared experiences, including an Everest trip that became a significant turning point for both of them. Together, they discuss the emotional lows, the feelings of inadequacy, and how connecting with others helped them heal.

Tony also addresses the atmosphere in fertility clinics, noting how clinical and tense they often feel. He advocates for more open conversations and less isolation for couples going through treatment.

His biggest piece of advice: Get tested early and thoroughly. Don’t avoid it – taking action puts you one step ahead.

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 a fertility diagnosis, Marc shares the highs and lows of his path to fatherhood.

After years of trying to conceive and facing mounting frustration, he was eventually diagnosed with Klinefelter Syndrome, a chromosomal condition that impacts fertility and other areas of life. 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, including poorly handled medical tests and a lack of male-focused fertility resources, only added to the emotional weight. He and his partner tried IVF but found that their local hospitals lacked the necessary facilities for male infertility treatment, and postcode-based funding restrictions complicated the process further.

Despite the challenges, Marc and his wife remained determined. They explored options like micro-TESE surgery and eventually made the difficult decision to proceed with donor sperm.

After further tests and procedures, their persistence was rewarded when his wife fell pregnant through IVF and donor sperm. The anxiety that accompanied the pregnancy was immense, but when their son was born, it disappeared for Marc.

Throughout the journey, the emotional toll was undeniable. Therapy became a vital tool for processing feelings of loss, frustration, and identity shifts. Finding a supportive community, like private groups, and taking small moments to connect through simple walks outside helped him and his wife hold onto hope during the toughest times.

Marc explains, educating yourself and those around you is empowering and helps foster understanding in a world where male infertility is often misunderstood. His advice to others facing similar challenges is simple but profound: find people you feel comfortable talking to, and don’t underestimate the power of sharing your story.

Follow Our Sponsors:

This series is proudly sponsored by @exseedhealth, trailblazers in male fertility testing. Ease the stress with their at-home sperm test, offering a convenient and reliable way to check sperm health without clinic visits. Use code MFP15 for an exclusive 15% off their range. Take control of your fertility journey with ExSeed Health.

It is also sponsored by Fertility Family, who provide Impryl, the unique supplement for conception which is recommended by fertility specialists for both men and women. Impryl is made from activated micronutrients which have been clinically proven to significantly improve live birth rates for men and women. Use code MF10 for a discount exclusive to our listeners.

Where You Can Find Us:

• Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• Follow Ciaran Hannington on Instagram: @themalefertilitypt
• Follow Shaun Greenaway on Instagram: @knackered_knackers
• Subscribe to The Male Fertility Podcast on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast - YouTube

Navigating Male Fertility Topics:

As we explore different facets of the male fertility journey, we want our content to be...

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 male infertility is and the healing power of breaking the silence — sharing how opening up at work led to surprising empathy and others sharing their own stories.

With candour, Matt discusses spiralling after his diagnosis, turning to alcohol, and the moment he realised he needed to change. Through lifestyle shifts and incredible support from his partner, he’s now taking back control of his journey.

His advice? Don’t shut yourself off. Talk, communicate, and find strength in the people around you.

Follow Our Sponsors:

This series is proudly sponsored by @exseedhealth, trailblazers in male fertility testing. Ease the stress with their at-home sperm test, offering a convenient and reliable way to check sperm health without clinic visits. Use code MFP15 for an exclusive 15% off their range. Take control of your fertility journey with ExSeed Health.

It is also sponsored by Fertility Family, who provide Impryl, the unique supplement for conception which is recommended by fertility specialists for both men and women. Impryl is made from activated micronutrients which have been clinically proven to significantly improve live birth rates for men and women. Use code MF10 for a discount exclusive to our listeners.

Where You Can Find Us:

• Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• Follow Ciaran Hannington on Instagram: @themalefertilitypt
• Follow Shaun Greenaway on Instagram: @knackered_knackers
• Subscribe to The Male Fertility Podcast on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast - YouTube

Navigating Male Fertility Topics:

As we explore different facets of the male fertility journey, we want our content to be easily discoverable for those searching for information. If you're seeking topics related to "male infertility," subscribe and follow on your preferred podcast platform. We're here to provide insights, experiences, and support, ensuring you don't miss any valuable discussions on male fertility.

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.

Rob and his wife then tried to navigate the NHS fertility process, and were told that their only option was ICSI - with little explanation as to why, and no with alternative pathways being provided. He highlights the lack of accessible information and clear communication for male fertility patients, leading to feelings of frustration and isolation.

Rob reflects on the critical role of support from friends and family, emphasising the power of opening up.

Tune in to hear Rob's story in full, as well as his advice for anyone in the same situation now.

Follow Our Sponsors:

This series is proudly sponsored by @exseedhealth, trailblazers in male fertility testing. Ease the stress with their at-home sperm test, offering a convenient and reliable way to check sperm health without clinic visits. Use code MFP15 for an exclusive 15% off their range. Take control of your fertility journey with ExSeed Health.

It is also sponsored by Fertility Family, who provide Impryl, the unique supplement for conception which is recommended by fertility specialists for both men and women. Impryl is made from activated micronutrients which have been clinically proven to significantly improve live birth rates for men and women. Use code MF10 for a discount exclusive to our listeners.

Where You Can Find Us:

• Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• Follow Ciaran Hannington on Instagram: @themalefertilitypt
• Follow Shaun Greenaway on Instagram: @knackered_knackers
• Subscribe to The Male Fertility Podcast on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast - YouTube

Navigating Male Fertility Topics:

As we explore different facets of the male fertility journey, we want our content to be easily discoverable for those searching for information. If you're seeking topics related to "male infertility," subscribe and follow on your preferred podcast platform. We're here to provide insights, experiences, and support, ensuring you don't miss any valuable discussions on male fertility.

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 the wrong information. After he eventually asked for a copy of the analysis, Sean and his partner realised that they had been hugely mis-informed about the results. Rather than the low numbers he was told he had, he actually had a zero count.

A second test confirmed it - there was no sperm.

The couple decided to go down the private route for fertility treatment, and Sean talks about having to prioritise his fertility over lots of other things in life due to the financial costs involved.

He discusses the ways in which his relationship with his wife has changed since the diagnosis, especially once the couple were to find that there was another unforeseen setback in relation to their fertility - which has left them very much in limbo.

Listen to here all of Sean's story, as well as his advice to other men who may find themselves in the same situation.

Follow Our Sponsors:

This series is proudly sponsored by @exseedhealth, trailblazers in male fertility testing. Ease the stress with their at-home sperm test, offering a convenient and reliable way to check sperm health without clinic visits. Use code MFP15 for an exclusive 15% off their range. Take control of your fertility journey with ExSeed Health.

It is also sponsored by Fertility Family, who provide Impryl, the unique supplement for conception which is recommended by fertility specialists for both men and women. Impryl is made from activated micronutrients which have been clinically proven to significantly improve live birth rates for men and women. Use code MF10 for a discount exclusive to our listeners.

Where You Can Find Us:

• Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• Follow Ciaran Hannington on Instagram: @themalefertilitypt
• Follow Shaun Greenaway on Instagram: @knackered_knackers
• Subscribe to The Male Fertility Podcast on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast - YouTube

Navigating Male Fertility Topics:

As we explore different facets of the male fertility journey, we want our content to be easily discoverable for those searching for information. If you're seeking topics related to "male infertility," subscribe and follow on your preferred podcast platform. We're here to provide insights, experiences, and support, ensuring you don't miss any valuable discussions on male fertility.

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 you as listeners. They share how series 3 will be focused on the stories of others - a chance for you to be able to share your experience and to help break the stigma of male infertility.

Thank you to all those who have tuned in and got in touch with us, thank you to our amazing sponsors this series and of course thank you to our incredible hosts, Shaun and Ciaran.

See you in Series 3!

The Male Fertility Podcast Team

Follow Our Sponsors:

This series is proudly sponsored by @exseedhealth, trailblazers in male fertility testing. Ease the stress with their at-home sperm test, offering a convenient and reliable way to check sperm health without clinic visits. Use code MFP15 for an exclusive 15% off their range. Take control of your fertility journey with ExSeed Health.

It is also sponsored by Fertility Family, who provide Impryl, the unique supplement for conception which is recommended by fertility specialists for both men and women. Impryl is made from activated micronutrients which have been clinically proven to significantly improve live birth rates for men and women. Use code malefertilitypodcast for a discount exclusive to our listeners.

And we're delighted to also be sponsored by One Day Tests. Blood work is the single best way of finding out what's going on inside your body. Getting a blood test from One Day Tests can be a really powerful tool to help shed light on issues that might be affecting the quality of your sperm and the chances of your partner conceiving. These could include medical conditions, hormonal imbalances or nutritional deficiencies. Code MFP10 gets our listeners a 10% discount across their range.

Where You Can Find Us:

• Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• Follow Ciaran Hannington on Instagram: @themalefertilitypt
• Follow Shaun Greenaway on Instagram: @knackered_knackers
• Subscribe to The Male Fertility Podcast on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast - YouTube

Navigating Male Fertility Topics:

• As we explore different facets of the male fertility journey, we want our content to be easily discoverable for those searching for information. If you're seeking topics related to "male infertility," subscribe and follow on your preferred podcast platform. We're here to provide insights, experiences, and support, ensuring you don't miss any valuable discussions on male fertility.
• Subscribe to The Male Fertility Podcast on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast -...

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 Elizabeth II for services to Reproductive Medicine. In 2023 he was the 38th recipient of Honorary Membership of the British Fertility Society.

This episode is jam packed with great information and advice.

Allan explores many topics, such as the changes he has witnessed in the industry in terms of male fertility, and how these changes are a positive for men - as both the patient and the partner.

We discuss home sperm testing kits - which Allan thinks are an amazing way to be able to get an idea of where you are at in terms of sperm health.

Allan talks about lifestyle, and the changes that you can make - including what can be harmful for sperm quality, as well as what can potentially improve it too.

Allan shares what the future looks like for the fertility industry, as well as sex education for the younger generation.

We also touch upon how cancer can affect your fertility - even from a young age, and we get Allan’s view on the term 'Spermageddon' which has been doing the rounds a lot lately!

Follow Our Sponsors:

This series is proudly sponsored by @exseedhealth, trailblazers in male fertility testing. Ease the stress with their at-home sperm test, offering a convenient and reliable way to check sperm health without clinic visits. Use code MFP15 for an exclusive 15% off their range. Take control of your fertility journey with ExSeed Health.

It is also sponsored by Fertility Family, who provide Impryl, the unique supplement for conception which is recommended by fertility specialists for both men and women. Impryl is made from activated micronutrients which have been clinically proven to significantly improve live birth rates for men and women. Use code Malefertilitypodcast for a discount exclusive to our listeners.

And we're delighted to also be sponsored by One Day Tests. Blood work is the single best way of finding out what's going on inside your body. Getting a blood test from One Day Tests can be a really powerful tool to help shed light on issues that might be affecting the quality of your sperm and the chances of your partner conceiving. These could include medical conditions, hormonal imbalances or nutritional deficiencies. Code MFP10 gets our listeners a 10% discount across their range.

Where You Can Find Us:

• Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• Follow Ciaran Hannington on Instagram: @themalefertilitypt
• Follow Shaun Greenaway on Instagram: @knackered_knackers
• Follow Allan on X (Twitter) or LinkedIn
• Subscribe

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.

Robin explores the different circumstances that can result in male childlessness - including his own. He talks about the lack of support and knowledge in the world around this topic for men - a world that perpetuates the myth that men will always be fertile from puberty until death.

Robin shares some of his academic research which uncovers the discrimination that stay at home fathers face. This then leads onto the discussion of bonding with your child after birth, and how men are expected to go back to work after a short period of time. Robin stresses the vital importance the presence of a father is to a newborn.

The three explore their experience of feeling lonely, and lacking purpose in life as a man without a child, and Robin gives some great advice for those feeling this way.

Our Sponsors:

This series is proudly sponsored by @exseedhealth, trailblazers in male fertility testing. Ease the stress with their at-home sperm test, offering a convenient and reliable way to check sperm health without clinic visits. Use code MFP15 for an exclusive 15% off their range. Take control of your fertility journey with ExSeed Health.

It is also sponsored by Fertility Family, who provide Impryl, the unique supplement for conception which is recommended by fertility specialists for both men and women. Impryl is made from activated micronutrients which have been clinically proven to significantly improve live birth rates for men and women. Use code Malefertilitypodcast for a discount exclusive to our listeners.

And we're delighted to also be sponsored by One Day Tests. Blood work is the single best way of finding out what's going on inside your body. Getting a blood test from One Day Tests can be a really powerful tool to help shed light on issues that might be affecting the quality of your sperm and the chances of your partner conceiving. These could include medical conditions, hormonal imbalances or nutritional deficiencies. Code MFP10 gets our listeners a 10% discount across their range.

Where You Can Find Us:

• Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• Follow Ciaran Hannington on Instagram: @themalefertilitypt
• Follow Shaun Greenaway on Instagram: @knackered_knackers
• Find Robin at Robin Hadley – Investigating the complexities of male childlessness
• Subscribe to The Male Fertility Podcast on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast - YouTube

Navigating Male Fertility Topics:

As we