Former bodybuilder Danny Andrews, who went viral as the 'fish and a rice cake' guy, says taking steroids for 'bigger biceps' wasn't worth it as he's now infertile. The 37-year-old from Preston, Lancashire, began taking steroids in 2008 when he was 18 due to the pressures of bodybuilding.
Steroid use and infertility diagnosis
Danny, who shot to fame after featuring in BBC Three's 2007 documentary Baby Faced Body Builders, said he never expected the side effects would affect his future. After realising he was only taking them because he was 'insecure', Danny stopped them five years later in 2013.
Danny went viral after explaining his diet on the BBC show - fish with a rice cake at 8am, fish at 10am, fish with a rice cake at 12pm, fish at 2pm, fish with a rice cake at 4pm, fish during his workout, fish with a rice cake post-training, followed by fish before bedtime.
Emotional impact and IVF journey
Danny said that after trying to start a family for two years, he went to his GP for a semen analysis. Danny says doctors told him he was infertile due to steroids, which affected the mobility of his sperm, and that it was 'highly unlikely' for him to have children naturally.
The content creator said he was left in tears and felt like he wasn't a 'man' for not being able to have kids. Now engaged to Sadie Bass after meeting on E4 dating show Love Triangle, Danny's tried medication and freezing his sperm and is due to start IVF soon.
Danny said: "I used to do it all naturally and then felt the pressures of growing up and being in the bodybuilding world. I had a previous relationship and I was 26 and wanted to start a family. We were trying for two years and I went to the doctors for a semen analysis.
"They told me I was infertile and I took it really bad. I've tried everything, medication, frozen my sperm - it's the motility of the sperm that's not very good. I was like, 'why me?'. I used to get jealous of my little sisters having families.
"People wouldn't understand, they'd joke and say 'you can have one of my kids'. Nobody understood that a man would want kids, I used to feel like my body was broken. The doctors said it was because of the steroids. I cried my eyes out, they said it's highly unlikely I will have kids naturally.
"I rang my mum to say I won't be able to give her grandchildren. My future didn't look like I had planned it in my head. I'm going through IVF and my missus has an appointment [soon]. We know we're going to do it together and I'm very lucky she is really understanding."
Fiancee's support and raising awareness
Sadie, a 30-year-old influencer, said: "I felt bad for him because he had said he really wants to be a dad and have a family. When we were chatting, he was checking that I also wanted kids. It was quite an emotional moment and I was impressed he opened up and [it] made him more attractive because he was being open and vulnerable.
"If anything, it made me feel more connected to him. I like the person for who they are, not for whether we're going to have kids or not. I do want kids but I have a more open-minded approach. Hopefully it happens for us but if it doesn't, I can still see a version of my life where I'll be happy without kids.
"I'd be open to adopting, it doesn't have to be a standard family. I'm nervous about IVF because it sounds like a gruelling, emotional-taxing process. If it doesn't work out, I don't want him to be upset."
Despite knowing for more than 10 years about his infertility, Danny said he kept it secret due to embarrassment. But after young men reached out to him to get advice, he shared his experience online. He now admits it wasn't worth it for 'bigger biceps' and now trains for longevity and health and is speaking out to raise awareness.
Danny said: "I've known for over 10 years but I didn't tell anybody, I was embarrassed. I didn't feel like a man, I felt ashamed. I felt like it was my fault but I was an 18-year-old. Men don't talk about it, you only see women talking about it. It's taken me 10 years to come to terms with the fact I may not have a family.
"It used to affect all my relationships. I thought 'why would someone want somebody that can't have kids?'. I realised I was taking them because I was insecure and wanted to be bigger and more muscular.
"Was it worth it for a bigger bicep to not have a family when you're older? It wasn't worth it. I train for longevity and try to keep healthy and fit."
Danny said he has always wanted kids and hopes to start a family before he turns 40. The ex-bodybuilder claims the pressure on young men is worse now due to social media and warns against going on steroids.
Danny said: "I've always wanted kids, especially now. At the time, you don't think about it and now for me it's a really big thing. I feel like a family man without a family. Hopefully it happens before I'm 40 because time is ticking, I feel like I'd make a great dad.
"I just want to create awareness that men are not alone because they will not talk about it. It is even worse now for young lads because they've got the pressure of social media and steroids are so accessible.
"You hear all the benefits but you don't hear all the side effects, and when you do, you don't think it will ever happen to you. I'm worried about young lads who take them. You can get it all online, it's crazy."
