Episode 14

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Published on:

1st Apr 2026

Testicular Cancer, Fertility & Balls Like Oranges with Jack Burke

This week, Ciaran and Shaun are joined by Jack Burke — journalist, writer, and testicular cancer survivor. Diagnosed at just 26 during the tail end of COVID, Jack's story is one of gut-wrenching fear, remarkable resilience, and a candid look at what happens to your fertility when cancer enters the picture.

For the first time, Jack opens up in real detail about finding the lump, navigating the NHS in a pandemic, enduring three brutal rounds of BEP chemotherapy, and the strange, often darkly funny reality of being a young man suddenly confronting his own mortality — and his fertility.

This is raw, honest, and exactly the kind of conversation that doesn't happen enough.

💬 What to Expect:

  • Jack's full story: from finding the lump in the shower to a stage 3/4 diagnosis and three rounds of BEP chemotherapy
  • The link between testicular cancer and infertility — and why it's not spoken about enough
  • The "wank bank" experience: the bizarre, funny, and deeply human reality of sperm banking at the NHS
  • Why the hardest part of cancer isn't the treatment — it's what comes after
  • The IVF funnel problem and how the male factor is so often overlooked in fertility pathways
  • What Jack wishes oncologists and andrologists had told him about preserving his fertility
  • The power of peer support: why talking to a man five years ahead of you beats any doctor's reassurance
  • Jack's open invitation to anyone going through testicular cancer to reach out to him directly

🏁 Episode Sponsors

This season is all about reminding you that when it comes to fertility, you are not alone.

At The Male Fertility Podcast, we know how powerful the right support can be, which is why we've partnered with Fertility Family to share Impryl.

We all know nutrition matters for fertility, but let's be honest, maintaining a perfectly balanced diet for conception is incredibly hard. Choosing a supplement can be just as confusing, especially when many multivitamins contain strong antioxidants that can actually harm sperm quality.

Impryl is different. It's made using activated micronutrients that support every cell in the body, from the largest, the egg, to the smallest, the sperm. These nutrients have been clinically shown to significantly improve live birth rates in men and women who had previously been struggling to conceive.

What we really like is that behind the science are real stories from real people.

To find out more, visit fertilityfamily.co.uk

Our listeners get 10% off using the code MFPOD10.

📲 Connect & Follow

  • 🌐 Community: nexysfertility.com
  • ▶️ YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast
  • 📷 Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
  • 👤 Ciaran: @themalefertilitypt
  • 👤 Shaun: @knackered_knackers
  • 👤 Jack Burke: @jsburke
  • 📧 Email: themalefertilitypodcast@gmail.com

⚠️ Disclaimer

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

Listen for free

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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

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Ciaran Hannington