One Man's Experience with IVF: Masculinity and Healing

Find your brotherhood in Authentic AF. Visit https://www.skool.com/authenticaf/aboutCuzzin Justin on IVF: Men, Grief, and the Intentional Path to FatherhoodHost Andy Grant interviews entrepreneur and podcast host Justin “Cuzzin Justin” Abrams about his six-year IVF journey, emphasizing that infertility and pregnancy loss affect men too. Justin describes feeling pressure to be strong and hide emotions, the emasculating sense of having little role beyond supporting his wife Tara, and how the medical process felt “sterile,” ambiguous, and businesslike. After years in an “unexplainable” category, they learned Tara had endometriosis, following multiple failures and miscarriages. Justin discusses trauma from the uncertainty, private grief, faith/spirituality, and coping through suppression and solitary “walkabouts,” while noting his cousin Todd was his main confidant. Justin explains their determination to build a family by any means, the desire to continue his family name, and their plan to end doctor-assisted attempts by August. He advises supporters to ask needs-based questions and stresses there’s no playbook—just keep going.00:00 Men in IVF Too00:18 Meet Cousin Justin01:08 Beyond the Roles02:57 Legacy and Divorce Wakeup05:37 IVF as Uncontrollable Creation07:46 Unexplained Infertility Years10:29 Family Name Pressure13:59 Emasculating Sterile Traumatic19:51 Trauma and Fear of Loss23:47 Why Keep Trying26:21 Manhood and Testing Results27:31 Carrying Her Burden29:14 Atlas Mode and Anger32:17 Validation and Deflection35:07 Grief in Different Ways37:30 Cousin Todd Safe Space40:08 Marriage Bond and Next Goal43:12 How to Support Men46:46 Talking to Kids About IVF49:10 No Playbook Keep Going51:00 Final Reflections and InviteConnect with JustinJustin Abrams — https://cuzzinjustin.com/LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24ResourcesPodcast — Strictly From NowhereConnect with Andy:Join other like-minded men in the Authentic AF Community | https://www.realmenfeel.org/groupInstagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrantAndy Grant | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!Real Men Feel | https://realmenfeel.orgYouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel#RealMenFeel ep 417