Dr Carole Gilling-Smith, the UK’s leading fertility expert, medical director of the Agora Clinic and founder of the charity, Fertility Action
Infertility affects one in six heterosexual couples and in at least half of all cases a male factor is identified, but when it comes to emotional support, men are typically left out of the conversation. They find infertility diagnoses emasculating, isolating and distressing.
Since much of the IVF process focusses on the woman’s body, men can feel powerless and ashamed, and the emotional strain can silently erode communication between a couple.
Men feel pressure to be the strong one to support their partner, as the expense of burying their own pain. I encourage men to be totally involved in the IVF process from the start: get informed, be open and tap into support.
Don’t suffer in silence and don’t let yourself be sidelined by fertility services. Your emotional presence is just as vital as any physical contribution, such as helping with injections.
We need more men like Tom to speak out about their fertility journey to help dismantle the stigma and build spaces where vulnerability isn’t viewed as weakness.
