Lucy Lines is an IVF scientist, fertility educator and patient advocate with more than 20 years’ experience, and in this mini episode, she unpacks what assisted reproductive technology (ART) means for men who are trying to conceive. From IVF and ICSI to what men can expect during testing and treatment. We also talk about how male fertility can affect success rates, the emotional and physical impact of treatment, and what men can do to support their partners and their own wellbeing through the process.

Key takeaways:

• IVF is not a guaranteed fix, and many people underestimate how complex, demanding and emotionally taxing the process can be
• Preparing for IVF through preconception health, education and realistic expectations can improve confidence and decision-making
• Men can play a meaningful role by getting informed, attending appointments, sharing lifestyle changes and taking responsibility for their own fertility

More resources

You can follow Lucy and Two Line Fertility on Instagram and find more resources on her website here.

A man's guide to going through IVF

Understanding assisted reproductive technology (ART) for men

Guidelines for the management of male infertility

Got questions or feedback?

Email us at podcasts@healthymale.org.au. We love getting your voice notes.

The end bits:

This podcast was created by Healthy Male — an Australian not-for-profit that provides evidence-based information on men's health. You can find more from us on Instagram, TikTok and our website.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this podcast was recorded — the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening today.

This podcast is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis, treatment and personalised medical guidance.

In this episode, we chat with Matthew Zukowski — host of the Where’s Your Head At? podcast and I'm a Celebrity... contestant — about finding out he was infertile in his early 20s, long before fatherhood was front of mind. Matt opens up about the shock of being told he had no sperm count, finding out he had undescended testes as a child and the complicated emotions that surfaced around the diagnosis. He also reflects on masculinity, dating with an infertility diagnosis and using his platform to talk openly about men’s fertility.

Key takeaways:

• Matt found out he’s infertile after a girlfriend made an offhand comment about his semen and it prompted him to get tested
• He was born with undescended testes, had surgery as a baby, and was told he should check his fertility around age 25
• He talks honestly about the masculinity hit: His first reaction is “what a man’s meant to do is have kids”
• Being public about infertility has become part of his coping: using his platform to normalise it, hearing from other men with similar histories, and feeling less alone through community
• Infertility has become something people “already know” about him and comes up while dating
• Becoming a stepdad to his ex-wife's children helped him realise parenting isn’t only biological, and he's kept space for multiple futures — sperm retrieval, donor sperm, adoption, stepkids, nieces/nephews
• His learning is that infertility is not your fault, it’s not a “problem” that defines you — it’s a complication you can face, talk about, and make a plan around

More resources:

You can follow Matt on Instagram and listen to Where’s Your Head At?

Got questions or feedback?

Email us at podcasts@healthymale.org.au. We love getting your voice notes.

The end bits:

This podcast was created by Healthy Male — an Australian not-for-profit that provides evidence-based information on men's health. You can find more from us on Instagram, TikTok and our website.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this podcast was recorded — the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening today.

This podcast is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis, treatment and personalised medical guidance.

In this mini-episode, embryologist and Scientific Director at Monash IVF Group, Dr Ryan Rose, answers listener questions about getting a semen analysis — a process many men find awkward, embarrassing or confusing. He breaks down what actually happens, why the test matters and how guys can feel more comfortable and prepared.

Key takeaways:

• Feeling anxious about fertility testing and semen analysis is common
• Semen analysis checks sperm count, motility, and morphology
• It can feel more comfortable doing the test at home, but most labs prefer it to be done in person
• Open communication with partners is essential during this process

More resources:

Can you do a semen analysis at home?
What happens during a semen analysis for male fertility
Are at-home semen tests for male fertility accurate?

Got questions or feedback?

Email us at podcasts@healthymale.org.au. We love getting your voice notes.

The end bits:

This podcast was created by Healthy Male — an Australian not-for-profit that provides evidence-based information on men's health. You can find more from us on Instagram, TikTok and our website.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this podcast was recorded — the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening today.

This podcast is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis, treatment and personalised medical guidance.