For decades, it was thought that women were the root cause of infertility. With extensive research, Time reports, it’s now understood that up to 50 percent of infertility cases are due to sperm-related issues — but men “are largely absent from public conversation” about the issue.
Speaking with former body builder Bradley Goldman, Time reports Goldman’s zero-sperm count was “earth-shattering” to him. Although fertility drugs are helping his count slowly increase, Goldman told the magazine that has sex drive has suffered and he’s lost 30 pounds of muscle. He’s feeling depressed and has less energy.
“I have 10-plus thousand people that follow me on Instagram,” Goldman told Time, “who don’t know who the f-ck I am.”
But importantly, the outlet reports, he isn’t alone. And more men are coming around to understanding that it’s OK to discuss fertility issues, especially as research shows that sperm count “has declined more than 50% in less than 40 years” among men who live in Western countries.
“I feel like I’m your stereotypical masculine-looking man,” Goldman told Time. “I’m tattooed. I have muscles. I work out. And I’m infertile. How many other guys out there that have this machismo, this mind-set about them, are in my shoes as well?”
There is a place for support and help, though, that’s specifically for men only: Men’s Fertility Support, a group on Facebook with nearly a thousand members.
“I was not about to share with a bunch of random dudes what I’m going through,” Goldman said he initially thought, but then caved. After reading a message posted by a man who said he’d considered suicide because of fertility issues, Time reports Goldman broke down in tears.
“That’s what so many men go through, and just keep their mouth shut.”
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