Men with CF and Infertility: The Science, The Options, The Hope.
Pete Proimos is an entrepreneur, a chronic illness advocate, and the founder of the Filotimo Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by cystic fibrosis. Diagnosed with CF as an infant, Pete kept his diagnosis private for decades. It wasn’t until his forties that he chose to speak publicly about living with the disease, and that brave decision has changed lives.
Pete is married to Annie, and together they are raising three children. His journey into fatherhood is part of what fuels his passion to make sure others with CF understand their options when it comes to building a family.
Joining him in this important conversation is Colin Thomas, who leads the Family-Building Program at the Filotimo Foundation. Colin also lives with CF and became a father of five through IVF. In addition to his advocacy work, he serves as Vice President of Operations at IVY Fertility. He brings both professional expertise and deeply personal experience to this discussion, sharing honestly about the challenges and triumphs of becoming a parent with CF.
One critical truth we discuss: Men with cystic fibrosis are not infertile because they don’t produce sperm. Most are born without a connected vas deferens — the tube that carries sperm — which makes natural conception difficult. But with medical support, including sperm retrieval and IVF, biological fatherhood is often absolutely possible.
This episode dives into the mission behind the Filotimo Foundation and the powerful work being done through its infertility and family-building program, work that is giving hope, clarity, and real options to families navigating CF.
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