This week, we are joined by Jack Silverside, an incredible member of the NeXYs community. Jack shares his and his wife Becca’s story, which began with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that nearly cost Becca her life. He takes us through the fear and uncertainty of that time, the long road to recovery, and their decision to pursue IVF.

From the initial hope and naive optimism to the crushing disappointment of failed cycles, Jack’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. He opens up about the emotional toll of fertility treatment, the importance of investigating male factor issues, and the life-changing power of finding a community of men who truly understand.

💬 Key Topics Discussed

The Traumatic Experience of a Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy

The Emotional Rollercoaster of IVF

Investigating Male Factor: Sperm DNA Fragmentation

The Importance of Peer Support and Community

Coping Mechanisms for Grief and Anxiety

The Decision to Never Give Up on the Dream of Parenthood

🕐 Timestamps

[00:05:00]: The harrowing experience of Becca’s ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

[00:25:00]: The crushing disappointment of the first failed IVF cycle.

[00:34:00]: The decision to investigate male factor issues and the discovery of high sperm DNA fragmentation.

[00:41:00]: How finding The Male Fertility Podcast and the NeXYs community changed everything.

[00:54:00]: The simple but powerful coping mechanisms Jack learned in therapy.

🏁 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.

And if you decide it’s right for you, our listeners can get 10% off using the code MFPOD10.

That’s MFPOD10

📲 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 professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised care.

Produced By Worth A Listen Productions

This week, we open up the Male Bag to tackle a deeply personal and important question: How do you rebuild your sense of self-worth after a male fertility diagnosis? A listener diagnosed with azoospermia shares his struggle with identity and feeling like he is failing his partner, a sentiment that both Shaun and Ciaran know all too well.

From the initial shock and loss of confidence to the long road back, this episode is a candid conversation about deconstructing who you thought you were and rebuilding from the ground up. We discuss practical strategies like discipline, journaling, and the power of community, offering hope and a reminder that you are not defined by your diagnosis.

💬 Key Topics Discussed

Identity Crisis: The common feeling of losing your sense of self and masculinity after a diagnosis.

Deconstructing Self-Worth: How to peel back the layers of societal expectation and find your true value.

The Power of Discipline: Why keeping small promises to yourself is the first step to rebuilding confidence.

Action Over Rumination: The importance of taking action, no matter how small, to get out of your own head.

Journaling & Gratitude: Practical tools to shift your focus from comparison to your own journey.

The Role of Community: Why connecting with others who understand is crucial for healing.

🕐 Timestamps

[00:01:20]: The listener's question: How do I rebuild my sense of self-worth after an azoospermia diagnosis?

[00:04:05]: Deconstructing Identity: Shaun discusses the long, painful process of figuring out who he was after his diagnosis.

[00:07:05]: Discipline Over Motivation: How doing hard things, like cold showers, helps build self-worth and integrity.

[00:14:10]: The Power of Journaling: Shaun shares his daily practice of writing down three things he's grateful for.

[00:21:00]: The 'Lucky Man' Analogy: Shaun explains how lyrics from The Verve helped him understand that self-worth starts and finishes with you.

🏁 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.

And if you decide it's right for you, our listeners can get 10% off using the code MFPOD10.

That's MFPOD10

📲 Connect & Follow

• Join our community: nexysfertility.com

• YouTube: @TheMaleFertilityPodcast

• Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast

• Ciaran: @themalefertilitypt

• Shaun:...

This week, we are joined by Scott Nolan, a proud member of the NeXYs community from Ireland. Scott shares his raw and honest story of being diagnosed with Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome, a condition where the testes fail to produce sperm. He opens up about the "white noise" that takes over during difficult consultations, the immense financial burden of fertility treatment in Ireland, and the emotional toll of navigating a diagnosis that left him feeling like a "shell" of himself.

From treating it as a "me problem" instead of an "us problem" to the life-changing moment he found a community of men who truly understood, Scott's journey is a powerful reminder that you are not alone and that peer support can be a lifeline in the darkest of times.

1. Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome: What it is and the emotional impact of the diagnosis.
2. The "White Noise" Phenomenon: The common experience of being unable to process information during overwhelming appointments.
3. Financial Burden: The reality of fertility treatment costs in Ireland, from consultation fees to Micro-TESE procedures.
4. Psychological Shift: The importance of moving from a "me problem" to an "us problem" with your partner.
5. The Power of Community: How finding a peer support group can completely change your perspective and provide a lifeline.
6. Partner Support: The crucial role of a supportive partner in navigating the fertility journey.

1. [00:06.0]: The Diagnosis: Scott explains his diagnosis of Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome.
2. [00:18.0]: A "Me Problem": Scott talks about the mistake of treating his diagnosis as his problem alone, not a shared one with his partner.
3. [27:21.0]: The "White Noise": The common experience of being unable to process information during overwhelming appointments.
4. [29:44.6]: The Cost of Treatment: Scott reveals the staggering out-of-pocket cost for a Micro-TESE procedure in Ireland.
5. [33:44.1]: The Emotional Impact: Scott describes the feeling of being a "shell" of himself and the stripping away of his masculinity after the final news.

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...