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Urology

Public Health

Men's perception and understanding of male-factor infertility in the UK

13 May 2021

Male Infertility

02 May 2021

Volume 30 · Issue 9

ISSN (print): 0966-0461

ISSN (online): 2052-2819

Abstract

Male-factor infertility is a common but stigmatised issue, and men often do not receive the emotional support and the information they need. This study sought to understand awareness of male fertility issues compared to female fertility among the UK general male public, and also what were perceived as being the optimum methods for providing support for affected men, emotionally and through information. Men feel that male infertility is not discussed by the public as much as female infertility. Lifestyle issues that affect male fertility are not well understood, and men affected by infertility desire more support, including online, from health professionals and through peer support. Health professionals, including those in public health, could offer evidence-based programmes to reduce stigma and increase public knowledge about infertility, as well as offer emotional support to men with infertility problems.

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive tract that results in the inability to become pregnant after 1 year of well-timed unprotected intercourse (Zegers-Hochschild et al, 2009). Around the world, 15% of couples are affected by fertility challenges, and a cause affecting the male partner (male-factor infertility (MFI)) is identified in 30–50% of cases (Chandra et al, 2013).

Semen quality may be influenced by lifestyle choices such as smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity and the use of anabolic steroids as fitness supplements (Kühnert and Nieschlag, 2004; Anifandis et al, 2014; Jurewicz et al, 2014; Pacey et al, 2014). Furthermore, male fertility declines with age (Fisch and Braun, 2013; Johnson et al, 2015).

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Male-factor infertility

Public health education

Lifestyle choices

Public perception

Stigma

Emotional support