Why Male Fertility Matters - and Why We’ve Put It Centre Stage at The Fertility Show 2026
By Sophie Sulehria - Women’s Health Journalist, Content Director and Host of The Fertility Show.
We should all know this by now. For too long, fertility has been framed as a women’s issue.
The language, the marketing, the research focus… even the way conversations happen in clinics and in society have all been overwhelmingly centred around women. And while female reproductive health absolutely deserves that attention, it has unintentionally left a critical part of the picture under-explored, under-discussed and, too often, misunderstood.
Male fertility.
At The Fertility Show 2026, we’ve made a conscious, deliberate decision to change that. Not as a token addition. Not as a side conversation. But as a central pillar of this year’s programme.
Because the reality is simple: male fertility is half the story. And yet, for many people, it’s the half they know the least about.
The Reality We Can’t Ignore
Around 1 in 6 couples experience fertility challenges. Of those, male factor infertility is involved in approximately 40–50% of cases.
And yet, men are often the last to be tested. They’re often given fewer answers. And crucially, they’re often given far less emotional support.
There are still outdated assumptions at play - that fertility equals female biology, that sperm is “simple”, that if there is an issue, it will be obvious or easily fixed. But the science tells a very different story.
Sperm health is complex. It is influenced by lifestyle, environment, genetics, medical history, age, stress and more. And importantly, many of these factors are modifiable - if people are given the right information early enough.
That’s where awareness becomes powerful. Because when men are informed, engaged and supported, outcomes can change.
The Silence Around Male Fertility
One of the biggest barriers is not just medical, but cultural.
Men are far less likely to talk openly about fertility struggles. Shame, stigma and identity all play a role. Fertility is often tied to ideas of masculinity, virility and self-worth, which can make it incredibly difficult to speak up when something isn’t right.
We hear it time and time again from patients:
“I didn’t realise it could be me.” “No one ever asked me about my fertility.” “I didn’t know where to go for help.”
That silence can delay diagnosis. It can isolate people. And it can place an uneven emotional burden on partners.
So part of going “big” on male fertility this year is about normalising the conversation. Creating space for it. And making sure men feel not only included, but actively welcomed into the fertility conversation.
As one of our exhibitors Ian Stones from testhim says:
“Fertility is a shared journey, which is why involving men in the conversation is absolutely critical. We need to empower men with the education to be proactive about their reproductive health and provide the support they deserve along the way.”
- Ian Stones - Founder and Co-Director, testhim
A Shift in the Industry, and Why It Matters Now
There is a growing recognition across the fertility sector that male reproductive health needs more attention. We’re seeing advances in diagnostics, deeper research into sperm DNA fragmentation, new approaches to lifestyle optimisation, and more personalised treatment pathways.
But innovation only matters if people can access it.
That’s why bringing together leading organisations in male fertility under one roof is so important.
At this year’s show, visitors will have the opportunity to explore a wide spectrum of support, testing and treatment options, all focused on male reproductive health.
Meet the Organisations Driving Change
This year, we’ve brought together an exceptional group of exhibitors who are actively reshaping how we understand and support male fertility:
LogixX Pharma Limited - advancing diagnostic tools and testing to better understand male fertility factors
Malebox Health Ltd - making at-home sperm testing more accessible, helping men take that first step in a private, convenient way
NeXYs Fertility - offering coaching and support grounded in lived experience, bridging the gap between clinical care and emotional wellbeing
Sapyen - focusing on science-backed supplementation to support sperm health
Strut Health - exploring the intersection between hormone health, testosterone and fertility
Fairfax Cryobank, Sussex Sperm Bank, European Sperm Bank and Manchester Fertility (Buy Sperm) - offering insight into donor conception, sperm banking and the pathways available for those building families in different ways
Together, they represent a powerful shift - from reactive treatment to proactive, informed care.
A Programme That Reflects the Importance of Male Fertility
This year’s seminar programme reflects that same commitment. We haven’t just included one session on male fertility. We’ve embedded it across the weekend, from foundational education to cutting-edge science.
Saturday 16 May - Setting the Conversation
We open with Male Fertility Matters at 11:30am, hosted by Eloise Edington, with Dr Anand Patel and nutritionist Melanie Brown.
This session tackles the fundamentals - what male fertility actually is, what affects it, and why it deserves equal attention. It’s an essential reset for anyone who has only ever heard half the story.
Later that afternoon, the conversation broadens with Egg & Sperm Health: Nutrition, Science & Clinical Insight. Hosted by Laura Biggs, this session brings together leading voices including Fertility Nutritionist Sandra Greenbank to explore how lifestyle, nutrition and clinical care intersect across both male and female fertility.
And then at 4:30pm, one of the leading voices in the field, Prof Allan Pacey, takes to the stage with What Really Improves Sperm Quality?
This is where myth meets evidence. What actually works? What doesn’t? And how can people cut through the noise to focus on what genuinely improves outcomes?
Sunday 17 May - Going Deeper
On Sunday, we take the conversation further with Male Fertility: New Concepts, Diagnostics & Treatments at 2:30pm.
Hosted by Shaun Greenaway, this session brings together Dr Jas Kalsi and Shaun Rogers from LogixX to explore the latest advancements in male fertility science - from new diagnostic approaches to emerging treatments.
This is about what’s next. What’s changing. And what that means for patients right now.
Lived Experience - The Missing Piece
Clinical insight is essential, but it’s only part of the picture. One of the most powerful aspects of this year’s focus on male fertility is the inclusion of lived experience - real men sharing real stories.
Over in the Let’s All Talk Fertility Lounge, Shaun Greenaway and Ciaran Hannington from NeXYs Fertility are leading two dedicated panel conversations.
Let’s Talk Male Fertility
Saturday 4pm
Hosted by Ciaran Hannington, with Nim Chandran, David Ireland and Alasdair Walker, this session creates space for honest, unfiltered conversations about male infertility.
The emotional impact. The delays in diagnosis. The realities that often go unspoken.
Male Fertility: Beyond DNA
Sunday 11am
Hosted by Shaun Greenaway, with Sean Farrell, Antony Allred and Paul Higginbottom, this panel moves beyond the clinical metrics. Because fertility isn’t just about numbers on a test result. It’s about identity, relationships, mental health and resilience.
These conversations matter because they make the invisible visible. They remind people they are not alone. And they help break down the stigma that still surrounds male fertility.
Why This Matters for Everyone
Focusing on male fertility isn’t just about men. It’s about shared understanding. It’s about ensuring that responsibility, awareness and support are balanced. When all people are equally informed, decisions can be made earlier, pathways can be clearer, and the emotional load can be shared more fairly.
It also changes the dynamic of care. Instead of fertility being something that “happens to women”, it becomes something that is approached together. And that shift can be incredibly powerful.
From Awareness to Action
One of the biggest barriers in fertility is not a lack of options - it’s a lack of awareness.
People often don’t know:
When to test
What tests are available
What results actually mean
What they can do to improve outcomes
By bringing together experts, organisations and lived experiences, The Fertility Show creates a space where those questions can be answered in real time.
Where people can ask directly. And where they can leave not just informed, but empowered.
Changing the Narrative
Going big on male fertility this year is about more than programming , it’s about changing the narrative.
Moving from silence to conversation. Assumption to understanding. Isolation to community.
It’s about recognising that male fertility is not a niche topic. It’s a fundamental part of reproductive health. And it deserves the same visibility, the same investment, and the same compassion.
A More Complete Conversation
At its heart, The Fertility Show has always been about bringing everything into one place.
The science. The support. The stories.
This year, by placing male fertility firmly at the centre of that, we’re making the conversation more complete.
More honest. And ultimately, more helpful for everyone who walks through the doors.
Because fertility is never just one person’s story.
And it’s time we told the whole of it.