Sam Hargraves was about to go live on air when he received a phone call that would change his life. The well-known Melbourne sports broadcaster suddenly found himself confronting a deeply personal and unexpected challenge: infertility.
“I got told that I had zero sperm,” Sam said in an interview with Kidspot.
“I remember thinking, ‘That means I’m not a man.’”
Now, during Men’s Mental Health Week, Sam is speaking out to help change how people view male infertility. His message is simple and powerful: “What defines you as a man is what’s in your heart. Not in your testicles.”
Trusting His Instincts
Sam and his partner, Evie, had been trying to conceive naturally for some time. While Evie was also dealing with fertility concerns, Sam had a strong feeling that something might be wrong on his side.
“I just had a hunch and thought, ‘Maybe I have a problem. I should get tested,’” he said.
The test was quick and easy.
“I tell my mates, without sounding crude, this is something you’ve practiced for all your life,” Sam joked. “It’s the easiest test you’ll ever take.”
But no amount of preparation could soften the blow of the results. Doctors told him he had zero sperm count—not even one.
A Wave of Emotions
The diagnosis hit Sam hard.
“All at once I felt embarrassed. I felt ashamed. I felt like I was less than. Like I wasn’t a man,” he recalled.
He also felt like he had let down Evie, who longed to be a mother.
His mental health quickly declined. One of the first people he called was his father.
“I burst into tears and said, ‘I’m not a real man.’ He told me, ‘That’s not true.’”
Male Infertility Is More Common Than You Think
Sam is far from alone. According to Dr. Chandrika Parmar, Director and Fertility Specialist at Genea in Melbourne, male infertility plays a role in about 30–40% of infertility cases.
Dr. Parmar explains that the issue usually stems from two causes:
Obstructive azoospermia, which happens when a blockage in the reproductive tract prevents sperm release (often due to infections, surgeries, or injury).
Non-obstructive azoospermia, where the testicles fail to produce sperm because of hormonal imbalances, genetic conditions, or damage from medical treatments.
The good news is that diagnosis is simple and treatment options exist.
“For men with low sperm counts, lifestyle changes—like quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, eating better, and lowering stress—can help,” Dr. Parmar said.
“And even for those with no sperm, options like surgical retrieval or using donor sperm are available.”
The Power of Support
Sam says his biggest strength came from the people around him—especially Evie.
“She was amazing. She still is. She’s a superhero,” he said.
Even after setbacks, the couple didn’t give up. Eventually, with the help of IVF using ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), they were able to build the family they dreamed of.
“We now have not one, but two miracles. We’re incredibly lucky,” Sam said.
Breaking the Silence Around Male Infertility
Sam hopes that by sharing his experience, he can encourage more men to speak openly about infertility.
“I don’t think anyone grows up hoping to be the face of male infertility,” he said, “but I’d love to see more men having these conversations.”
He believes that a man’s worth isn’t measured by fertility.
“If someone asked you to list the best qualities about yourself, or about a man you admire, you wouldn’t say ‘high sperm count’.”
In fact, the experience helped Sam grow in ways he didn’t expect.
“I think I’ve become a better man since learning I had no sperm,” he said.
“I changed my habits—exercise, diet, drinking—and it made me better. A better partner, and now a better father.”
A New Definition of Manhood
Sam Hargraves’ journey reminds us that masculinity isn’t defined by biology. His story challenges outdated ideas and offers hope to many men facing similar struggles. In his words, being a man isn’t about what you can produce—it’s about how you live, love, and grow through life’s toughest moments.
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