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For women who are trying to conceive, it is critical to assess their general knowledge regarding fertility and fertility-awareness practices to identify the fertile window and their agency to achieve pregnancy. The couple’s ability to deal with the infertility issue may be influenced by their beliefs and attitudes concerning infertility, which are based on social and cultural influences as well as their inner aspirations. As a result, it’s critical to examine infertile and fertile woman’s general knowledge of reproduction and infertility risk factors. It’s also crucial to learn about women’s attitudes toward infertility (social beliefs), as well as the repercussions of infertility and the practises they employ to avoid it. The present study includes 250 fertile and 250 infertile women. Data collection for infertile women was done from the Gynecology Outpatient Department (OPD). Participants from both groups i.e., infertile and fertile women have little knowledge about infertility but, infertile women have significantly higher knowledge than fertile women. Knowledge of the fertile period, as well as several potential causes of infertility, were found to be significantly higher in women with infertility problem rather than fertile women, indicating that the knowledge they have acquired is not attributable to education system, but rather to their experience gained during visits to medical practitioners. In addition to differences with respect to knowledge, infertile and fertile women differed in terms of both attitude (societal beliefs and social consequences of infertility) and practices. Better knowledge regarding infertility is likely to bring positive notes among women with infertility problems. Which will further improve the attitude and practices of society towards infertile women. Therefore, its crucial to introduce reproductive health education at high school or undergraduate level, to assist women in avoiding infertility and to help infertile women develop healthier attitudes regarding infertility treatment and coping techniques.

Background One of the greatest concerns for cancer patients of reproductive age is fertility. Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients with cancer lack regular access to fertility preservation information. This study aimed to evaluate awareness of reproductive concerns related to infertility preservation among female cancer patients. Methods A cross‑sectional study was conducted between March and August 2024 at the gynecological oncology unit in collaboration with the assisted reproductive technology unit at Woman’s Health Hospital, Assiut University, Egypt. A purposive sample of 20 women aged 16–40 years with newly diagnosed early‑stage cancer who had not yet initiated treatment and had already received fertility counseling was recruited. Data were collected through structured face‑to‑face interviews via questionnaires covering personal, obstetrical, reproductive, and cancer‑related characteristics, in addition to the Infertility Knowledge Questionnaire, the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale, the Fertility Intention Scale, and the Decisional Conflict Scale. Associations between study variables were examined via appropriate statistical analyses. Results Most women with cancer reported poor knowledge about fertility preservation, high reproductive concerns, strong fertility intentions, and low decisional conflict. Associations were observed between education level, infertility knowledge, and fertility intentions. Conclusion Most female cancer patients reported high reproductive concerns and strong fertility intentions despite limited knowledge about infertility and fertility preservation. Education level and selected obstetrical factors were associated with infertility knowledge, fertility intentions, and reproductive concerns.

Abstract   Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge levels of university students about infertility and investigate the differences in knowledge levels according to sociodemographic variables and some lifestyle factors.   Material and methods: The sample of the study consisted of 9693 undergraduate students (5002 females, 4691 males) from 12 regions. Regions were determined according to Statistical Region Units Classification-1 criteria. Infertility Knowledge Test (IKT) was used as a data collection tool.   Results: It was found that university students’ IKT scores significantly differed according to gender (p

Delayed childbearing is currently a major challenge in reproductive medicine as increased age has an important impact on successful conception, both in natural and in assisted reproduction. There is a lack of knowledge about the impact of age on fertility, even in highly educated populations. A number of initiatives have been taken to increase fertility awareness. Health care providers have been encouraged to talk with patients about their reproductive life plan (RLP) for almost a decade based on recommendations from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. This concept has been explored successfully in Swedish contraception counselling. A growing number of online interventions aim to raise fertility awareness. These websites or interactive tools provide relevant information for individuals and couples as they consider whether they want children, when they should have them, and how many they may wish to have. These interventions are important, because research depicts that knowledge helps people in their decision-making process. With new fertility preservations such as egg freezing now available, additional education is needed to be sure that women and couples are well informed about the cost and low success rates of this intervention.

Background Nearly all males with cystic fibrosis (MwCF) are infertile and, thus, require the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to have biologic children. This study aims to describe the fertility and family-building knowledge, experiences, and care utilization of this population and to compare these findings to the general United States (US) population. Methods We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional study of self-reported survey data compared to data from the 2017–2019 US National Survey for Family Growth (NSFG). We recruited MwCF age 15 years and older at seven US cystic fibrosis (CF) centers. Results A total of 532 MwCF (mean age 35.3 ± 11.6 years) completed the survey. 83% knew that almost all MwCF are infertile and 84% were aware that MwCF can have biological children. 71% correctly identified the most common cause of male CF infertility. One third of MwCF stated they had never been told by anyone they were infertile due to their CF (mean age of discussion 19.3 ± 8.8 years). 31% reported being a parent. Among parents, 66% were a parent to a biological child born of a partner’s pregnancy, 20% via step-parenthood, 15% adoption, 4.3% surrogacy, and 0.6% foster parenthood. Compared to 44% of NSFG males, 18% of MwCF age 15–49 years reported being a parent to a biological child born of their partner’s pregnancy ( p  < 0.001). Among all MwCF, 82% with a biological child reported that they required medical assistance. Among those age 15–49 years, 87% of MwCF with a biological child required medical assistance compared to 9.4% of NSFG males ( p  < 0.001). Nearly three-quarters (73%) of MwCF who were biological parents underwent sperm retrieval via a variety of extraction techniques. 91% of those utilizing ART underwent in vitro fertilization and 9% intrauterine insemination of their partner. Conclusions MwCF face significant disease-related fertility and family-building implications with suboptimal counseling. Most MwCF who are parents pursue biological parenthood via a variety of ART services, but one-third chose alternative paths to parenthood. Further research is needed to best understand and support the family-building of MwCF. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Understanding knowledge and perceptions of infertility risk factors is crucial for promoting fertility preservation. While prior studies have explored infertility awareness among university students based on gender, limited research examines both genders within a single study. This study investigates university-aged males' and females' knowledge and perceptions of infertility risk factors, identifying gender-specific risks. Conducted at the University of Ghana, the study employed a descriptive cross-sectional qualitative design, involving semi-structured interviews with 21 male and 18 female students. Qualitative data analysis indicates that participants were aware of infertility and could identify gender-specific risk factors. However, many perceived infertility as a condition affecting only women. The findings highlight that excessive contraceptive use and abortion were identified as female infertility risk factors, while substance abuse and multiple sexual partnerships were linked to male infertility. This study suggests that there must be comprehensive education to address misconceptions and promote awareness of infertility risk factors across genders. Comprendre les connaissances et les perceptions des facteurs de risque d'infertilité est essentiel pour promouvoir la préservation de la fertilité. Bien que des études antérieures aient exploré la sensibilisation à l'infertilité chez les étudiants universitaires en fonction du genre, peu de recherches examinent les deux genres au sein d'une même étude. Cette étude examine les connaissances et les perceptions des hommes et des femmes en âge universitaire concernant les facteurs de risque d'infertilité, en identifiant les risques spécifiques à chaque genre. Menée à l'Université du Ghana, l'étude a adopté une approche qualitative descriptive transversale, impliquant des entretiens semi-structurés avec 21 étudiants de sexe masculin et 18 étudiantes de sexe féminin. L'analyse des données qualitatives indique que les participants étaient conscients de l'infertilité et pouvaient identifier les facteurs de risque spécifiques au genre. Cependant, de nombreuses personnes percevaient l'infertilité comme une condition affectant uniquement les femmes. Les résultats mettent en évidence que l'utilisation excessive de contraceptifs et l'avortement ont été identifiés comme des facteurs de risque d'infertilité féminine, tandis que l'abus de substances et les partenaires sexuels multiples ont été liés à l'infertilité masculine. Cette étude suggère qu'une éducation complète est nécessaire pour corriger les idées fausses et sensibiliser aux facteurs de risque d'infertilité, et ce, pour tous les genres.

Infertility in Sub-Saharan Africa constitutes an important social and public health problem. Yet, there is a paucity of research on the experiences of men living with infertility, especially in West Africa. This study explored men's aetiological knowledge, views and experiences of infertility in the West Coast region of The Gambia, West Africa. An explorative qualitative study was conducted among men living in the rural and urban communities of the West Coast region of The Gambia using in-depth interviews. Data collection and analysis were performed concurrently, and thematic data analysis was an iterative process carried out using NVivo 11 Analysis Software. Gambian men had generally poor knowledge of infertility, allocating it to God, spiritual powers and bodily (biomedical) factors. While societal norms meant that infertility was generally attributed to women, some men allocated male-factor infertility to poor sperm quality and impotence. Infertility threatened participants' sense of masculinity and resulted in psychosocial distress, including stigma, feelings of isolation, and low self-esteem. Normative gendered frameworks of infertility result in high levels of female responsibilisation in the Gambian context. Yet men diagnosed with infertility experience significant, often unrecognized, psychological and social distress. We therefore call for increased attention to male-factor infertility, and the promotion of male engagement with infertility-care and services, both of which are essential for successfully addressing infertility and it's psychosocial consequences in The Gambia.

Background Postponing parenthood has steadily increased during the past decades in Western countries. This trend has affected the size of families in the direction of fewer children born per couple. In addition, higher maternal age is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications such as prematurity and foetal death, while higher paternal age increases the risk of miscarriage and affects time-to-pregnancy. Hence, understanding the circumstances and reflections that influence the decision is greatly needed and little is known about potential gender difference influencing the choice. The aim was to investigate attitudes towards parenthood, intentions for childbirth and knowledge about fertility issues among men and women . Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a validated 49-item questionnaire among students, who attended selected mandatory lectures at a Danish university college in February to April 2016. The participation rate was 99%, and 517 completed the questionnaire. Results Though the majority of all participants wished to have children in the future (>86%), there was significant difference between the genders ( p  = 0.002). Women rated having children to be more important than men did ( p  < 0.001), while men rated higher the likelihood of abstaining from having children if faced with infertility ( p  = 0.003). Knowledge about fertility issues was similar between genders including poor knowledge about the age-related decline in female fertility. While women found it more important to have children before being ‘too old’ ( p  = 0.04), still more than 40% of all respondents intended to have their last child after the age of 35 years. For both genders the most important prerequisite for parenthood was having a partner to share responsibility with. Perceived or experienced life changes related to parenthood were generally positive such as personal development. Conclusion The majority of respondents wished to have children, but many desired to have these after the biological decline in female fertility. The moderate knowledge level among both genders uncovered in this study is of concern. Future research should address the potential link between fertility knowledge and planning of parenthood. We may benefit from intervention studies examining the effect of routine preconception care.

PurposeTo assess public attitudes towards fertility treatment coverage and whether attitudes are influenced by infertility labels.MethodsCross-sectional, web survey-based experiment using a national sample of 1226 United States adults. Participants read identical descriptions about infertility, with the exception of random assignment to infertility being labeled as a “condition,” “disease,” or “disability.” Participants then responded to questions measuring their beliefs and attitudes towards policies related to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. We measured public support for infertility policies, public preference for infertility labels, and whether support differed by the randomly assigned label used. We also queried associations between demographic data and support for infertility policies.ResultsSupport was higher for insurance coverage of infertility treatments (p=.014) and fertility preservation (p=.017), and infertility public assistance programs (p=.036) when infertility was described as a “disease” or “disability” compared to “condition.” Participants who were younger, were planning or trying to conceive, had a family member or friend with infertility, and/or had a more liberal political outlook were more likely to support infertility policies. A majority of participants (78%) felt the term “condition” was the best label to describe infertility, followed by “disability” (12%). The least popular label was “disease” (10%). Those preferring “condition” were older (p<.001), more likely to be non-Hispanic White (p=.046), and less likely to have an infertility diagnosis (p<.001).ConclusionWhile less commonly identified as the best descriptors of infertility, labeling infertility as a “disease” or “disability” may increase support for policies that improve access to infertility care

To determine if an internet-based mind/body program would lead to participants experiencing infertility (1) being willing to be recruited and randomized and (2) accepting and being ready to engage in a fertility-specific intervention. Secondary exploratory goals were to examine reduced distress over the course of the intervention and increased likelihood to conceive. This was a pilot randomized controlled feasibility trial with a between-groups, repeated measure design. Seventy-one women self-identified as nulliparous and meeting criteria for infertility. Participants were randomized to the internet-based version of the Mind/Body Program for Fertility or wait-list control group and asked to complete pre-, mid- and post-assessments. Primary outcomes include retention rates, number of modules completed, and satisfaction with intervention. Secondary exploratory outcomes sought to provide preliminary data on the impact of the program on distress (anxiety and depression) and self-reported pregnancy rates relative to a quasi-control group. The retention, adherence, and satisfaction rates were comparable to those reported in other internet-based RCTs. Although time between pre- and post-assessment differed between groups, using intent-to-treat analyses, women in the intervention group (relative to the wait-list group) had significant reduction in distress (anxiety, p = .003; depression, p = .007; stress, p = .041 fertility-social, p = .018; fertility-sexual, p = .006), estimated as medium-to-large effect sizes (ds = 0.45 to 0.86). The odds of becoming pregnant was 4.47 times higher for the intervention group participants as compared to the wait-list group, OR 95% CI [1.56, 12.85], p = .005 and occurred earlier. The findings suggest that the research design and program specific to this population are feasible and acceptable. Replication efforts with an active control group are needed to verify distress reduction and conception promotion findings.