Episode 7

full
Published on:

29th Jan 2025

Male Fertility & Mental Wellbeing | Toby Burns on Tough Choices, Therapy & Openness

This week on the Male Fertility Podcast, Ciaran and Shaun welcome Toby Burns who shares his deeply personal fertility journey marked by challenges and resilience. Toby discusses the impact of his wife's cancer diagnosis, the pandemic's disruption, and how they navigated the uncertainty of trying to start a family amid life’s unexpected hurdles.

💬 What to Expect:

  • Toby Burns’ personal story and the context leading up to fertility challenges
  • The impact of his wife’s cancer diagnosis and remission on their journey
  • How the pandemic affected their plans and timing for starting a family
  • Reflections on resilience, hope, and partnership during difficult times
  • Insights into emotional and practical challenges faced by men in fertility
  • Encouragement to openly discuss male fertility and break stigma

🎙️ Guest Details

Toby Burns, Male Fertility Journey Advocate

📲 Connect & Follow

Join our community: nexysfertility.com

Subscribe on YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast

Follow us on Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast

Follow Ciaran: @themalefertilitypt

Follow Shaun: @knackered_knackers

Contact us: themalefertilitypodcast@gmail.com

🔍 Navigating Male Fertility

Looking for support and insight on male infertility? This podcast offers you stories, expert advice, and our NeXYs community ready to listen. Subscribe and follow to join the journey and never miss an episode.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This podcast provides information and support but should not replace personalised medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised care.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Male Fertility Podcast

About the Podcast

The Male Fertility Podcast
The UK’s leading podcast on male fertility. Real stories, expert advice, and the conversations men aren’t having.
The Male Fertility Podcast is the UK’s leading show dedicated to male fertility, hosted by Ciaran and Shaun, two men who’ve lived the reality of infertility diagnoses, fertility treatment, and everything that comes with it.

Whether you’re dealing with low sperm count, poor motility, low morphology, azoospermia, or a varicocele diagnosis, this podcast is the resource you wish you’d had from day one.

Each episode covers what actually matters: IVF and ICSI from the male perspective, navigating NHS referrals and waiting lists, the real cost of private treatment in the UK, lifestyle changes that can improve sperm quality, and the emotional and mental health impact that often goes unspoken.

We speak to fertility specialists, urologists, andrologists, and men sharing real, unfiltered stories — from difficult diagnoses through to successful pregnancies.

Topics we cover:

Male factor infertility: diagnosis and treatment options
Sperm health: count, motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation
IVF, ICSI, MESA, TESE, micro-TESE
Varicocele surgery and recovery
Supplements, diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes
Mental health, relationships, and coping strategies
NHS vs private fertility treatment in the UK
Costs, funding, and access to treatment
Supporting your partner
Real stories and success journeys

This podcast exists because male fertility is too often overlooked. Half of all infertility involves a male factor, yet most support is aimed elsewhere. We’re changing that.

If you’re facing fertility challenges, or supporting someone who is, subscribe now — you’re not alone.

About your host

Profile picture for Ciaran Hannington

Ciaran Hannington