Ciaran is co-host of The Male Fertility Podcast and a personal trainer with extensive experience in male fertility challenges. Having navigated his own fertility journey, including approximately £45,000 worth of NHS treatment and additional private costs, Ciaran brings both personal insight and professional expertise to help men understand the physical and emotional aspects of fertility struggles. His background in fitness and health allows him to provide practical advice on lifestyle factors that impact male fertility, while supporting men emotionally through his work with The Male Fertility Podcast and NeXYs Fertility, the world's first online community platform dedicated to supporting men during their own fertility challenges.

In this episode, Ciaran reveals:

Financial Reality Check: After roughly £45,000 worth of fertility treatment (mostly NHS-covered but still £5-6,000 out of pocket), Ciaran shares practical strategies including budgeting, researching cheaper medication suppliers, and using cinema cards for affordable date nights during financially tight periods.

Cannabis and Fertility Truth: Research shows marijuana reduces sperm concentration and motility whilst increasing abnormal sperm shape. The good news? There is evidence that these effects are reversible when you stop smoking, and GPs will support you without judgement.

Cycling Guidelines: Rather than complete avoidance, if cycling is a vital part of your life, Ciaran recommends limiting cycling to 30-45 minutes at moderate intensity (zone 2 training) twice weekly, using padded seats with ventilation, and wearing breathable shorts to reduce heat.

Male Age Factor: Unlike women, men don't face a fertility cliff, but evidences success rates do decline after 45. Living healthily - proper sleep, exercise, reduced alcohol, and stress management - can help maintain fertility longer.

Sperm Freezing Options: Men can freeze sperm through clinics or sperm banks via cryopreservation, providing insurance for future fertility needs or medical treatments.

Stress Management: High cortisol reduces testosterone, directly impacting fertility. Ciaran emphasises communicating with employers, planning stress-reducing activities, and acknowledging stress as the first step to managing it.

Ciaran explains that whilst these factors matter, the key is finding balance rather than perfection. Small, manageable changes in lifestyle and financial planning can make a significant difference without sacrificing mental health.

Connect with The Male Fertility Podcast:

Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast

Email: themalefertilitypodcast@gmail.com

Web: nexysfertility.com

Have questions or experiences about your fertility journey?

Share them with us!

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider.

In this episode of The Male Fertility Podcast, GP and male health expert Dr Anand Patel joins hosts Ciaran and Shaun to discuss the shocking gaps in medical education around male fertility and why the current system is failing men.

In this episode, Dr Patel reveals:

The Training Crisis: How GPs receive virtually no education about male fertility, with 80% admitting they don't feel confident interpreting semen analysis and 90% unable to properly examine for varicoceles - despite male factors being involved in 50% of fertility cases.

The Demographic Disaster: With sperm counts dropping 50% in 50 years and the UK having the lowest birth rate in Europe, we're facing a potential demographic crisis similar to Korea's sociological meltdown, yet fertility remains low on the government agenda.

Testing Beyond the Basics: Why the standard GP guidance of "do a semen analysis, if it's abnormal do another one" is woefully inadequate, and the importance of hormone testing, DNA fragmentation analysis, and proper specialist referrals.

The Lifestyle Revolution: Dr Patel's key message that lifestyle changes trump supplements every time - from reducing coffee and alcohol to proper sleep, exercise, and maintaining relationship health during the fertility journey.

The Masculinity Crisis: How the shame of male infertility can be as devastating as a cancer diagnosis, why men defer to their partners in appointments, and the critical need for male-focused fertility support and therapy.

Dr Patel emphasises that small tweaks can lead to significant improvements in fertility outcomes, but the medical profession needs urgent reform in education and guidelines. His work training the next generation of GPs aims to ensure every generation is better equipped to support men through fertility challenges.

Have questions or experiences about your fertility journey?

Share them with us!

📧 Email: themalefertilitypodcast@gmail.com

📷 Instagram:

@themalefertilitypodcast

📖 Web: nexysfertility.com

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider.

In this episode of The Male Bag, Shaun tackles listener questions about the emotional and practical challenges of male fertility struggles, offering honest insights from his own three-year journey with azoospermia and donor conception.

In this episode, Shaun reveals:

Opening Up to Friends and Family: How starting small with "one person, one sentence" can break down the barriers to sharing your fertility struggles, and why Shaun waited three years before telling his mates.

Managing Daily Anxiety and Stress: Practical strategies including exercise as "active meditation," journaling apps like Day One, and the importance of routine and goal-setting during fertility treatment.

Being Heard in Medical Appointments: How to move from feeling invisible to being an active participant by doing research beforehand, taking notes during appointments, and reducing the burden on your partner.

Supporting Each Other as a Couple: The crucial role of communication, including Shaun's tip about walking together outdoors to create a safe space for difficult conversations without feeling like an "interview or interrogation."

Finding Joy Beyond Fertility: The importance of maintaining your identity and doing things that brought you happiness before fertility struggles took over your life.

Shaun emphasises that fertility struggles are a "phase process" where everyone moves at their own pace. His key message is that you're not a passenger in this journey - you deserve to be seen, heard, and supported throughout the process.

Have questions or experiences about your fertility journey?

Share them with us!

📧 Email: themalefertilitypodcast@gmail.com

📷 Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast

📖 Web: nexysfertility.com

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider.