Former footy star Reece Conca has opened up on his struggles after finding out he was infertile, despite being in such great physical shape.
The 33-year-old was diagnosed with azoospermia following testing that showed low testosterone and a low sperm count.
Alongside the physical complications, the former Richmond and Fremantle star also opened up about the mental health struggle.
He highlighted the lack of community and understanding around male infertility, despite its somewhat common occurrence.
The impacts of the diagnosis had been somewhat exacerbated by the great physical shape that Conca was in when he was given the heartbreaking news.
He also went on to explain that not only was he confused, but he also had to deal with feelings of shame.
Reece Conca recently opened up about his struggles with his mental health and identity after he found out he was infertile
The 33-year-old told of how his struggles were exacerbated by the lack of community for men who have been told they are infertile
Conca and his wife have since welcomed a child, something he has credited heavily in regards to being able to find himself again
In a post on Instagram, the 2018 McClelland Trophy winner with Richmond, wrote ‘Recently I spoke to @manofmany about the impact of male infertility on mental health, and why it’s so important to speak about this topic more.
‘Male factor infertility contributes to one in three IVF cycles and plays a role in up to half of all couples who struggle to fall pregnant – which included me and Belle.
‘Despite those numbers, male reproductive health is rarely spoken about, and that’s why I advocate for and speak about it so openly.
‘If you want to learn more, there’s some great insights in the full article – I’ll put the link in my bio when it goes live next week. You can also find links to other great resources including the Fertility Fit website.’
And in that interview with Man of Many, he said, ‘It was definitely quite a confusing diagnosis, mainly because it was so unknown and I didn’t really have any awareness or education around it.
‘It was really quite embarrassing. I had this real sense of shame, and even my identity as a male, as an athlete. I really struggled with that.
‘I’d never really been taught how to speak about your emotions and feelings and your struggles.
‘It was only until I finished my career and started seeking professional psych support that I started getting a bit more understanding of feelings and emotions and what I was struggling with.
‘It was strange to get thrown right in the deep end and try to navigate this whole idea of male infertility. I really struggled with feeling really isolated and not having any guidance or anyone to speak to about it.’
Conca also opened up about his struggles with his identity after receiving the diagnosis, explaining that he struggled to define what it meant for him to be a strong man.
He credits now being a father, along with a lot of psychological support in being able to find himself again.
‘The purpose that I have in being a father now is more important than anything. This idea of being a strong male, my identity, it definitely isn’t shaped by my masculinity or my identity as an athlete. My ability to communicate and talk about my feelings, that’s a real strength.’
Conca also recommended that anyone trying to get pregnant should be proactive in their approach.Â
