SART Fertility Experts - The Strength to Speak: Men, Infertility, and the Weight of Silence

Male infertility is common, but the emotional toll often remains hidden behind silence, stigma, and expectations about masculinity. In this episode of SART Fertility Experts, psychologist Dr. Bill Petok speaks with Dr. Brennan Peterson, professor, licensed marriage and family therapist, and leading researcher on the mental health impact of infertility in men. They explore how an infertility diagnosis can disrupt identity, relationships, sexuality, and a man's sense of purpose, while leaving many unsure where to seek support. Dr. Peterson discusses research showing that thoughtful openness with trusted people can reduce depressive symptoms, strengthen meaning, and lessen isolation. The conversation also examines why men may prefer written resources and anonymous online communities, how fertility treatment can leave male partners feeling peripheral or guilty, and the emotional complexities of donor conception. Listeners will come away with practical ways to find support, communicate more honestly, and redefine vulnerability not as weakness, but as a powerful and deeply human form of strength while navigating an uncertain path toward parenthood.

Find the #StartwithSART Fertility Experts series wherever you get your podcasts. Looking for advice on building a family? Ask the experts and #StartwithSART.

For more information about the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, visit our website at https://www.sart.org

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