Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Reproductive Health
Published in: Reproductive Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research

A qualitative study of Ottawa university students’ awareness, knowledge and perceptions of infertility, infertility risk factors and assisted reproductive technologies (ART)

Authors: Kelley-Anne Sabarre, Zainab Khan, Amanda N Whitten, Olivia Remes, Karen P Phillips

Published in: Reproductive Health | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Awareness of infertility risk factors is an essential first step to safeguard future fertility. Whereas several studies have examined university students’ awareness of female fertility and related risk factors, the topic of male infertility has not been well examined. The objective of this study was to assess young men and women’s awareness, knowledge and perceptions of infertility, male and female infertility risk factors and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2008 with a multi-ethnic sample of sixteen male and twenty-three female Ottawa university students, followed by qualitative data analysis to identify major themes. Interview topics included awareness of male and female infertility risk factors, infertility diagnosis/treatments and personal options in the event of future infertility.

Results

Participants were generally familiar with infertility as a biomedical health problem, could identify sex-specific risk factors but overestimated fertility of women in their thirties and ART success rates. Reproductive health knowledge gaps and confusion of the physiological life-stage of menopause with infertility were apparent. Most participants would pursue in vitro fertilization or international adoption in the event of personal infertility. Some participants wished to use a ‘natural’ approach and were concerned with potential side effects of ART-related medications.

Conclusions

The general awareness of infertility in young adults is promising and supports the potential uptake for health promotion of fertility preservation. This study underscores the continued need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and promotion for adolescents and young adults.
Literature
1.
Foster WG, Neal MS, Han MS, Dominguez MM: Environmental contaminants and human infertility: hypothesis or cause for concern?. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2008, 11 (3–4): 162-176.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Bushnik T, Cook JL, Yuzpe AA, Tough S, Collins J: Estimating the prevalence of infertility in Canada. Hum Reprod. 2012, 27 (3): 738-746. 10.1093/humrep/der465.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
3.
Adamson GD, Baker VL: Subfertility: causes, treatment and outcome. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2003, 17 (2): 169-185. 10.1016/S1521-6934(02)00146-3.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Tough S, Tofflemire K, Benzies K, Fraser-Lee N, Newburn-Cook C: Factors influencing childbearing decisions and knowledge of perinatal risks among Canadian men and women. Matern Child Health J. 2007, 11: 189-198. 10.1007/s10995-006-0156-1.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Phillips KP, Tanphaichitr N: Human exposure to endocrine disrupters and semen quality. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2008, 11 (3–4): 188-220.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Paavonen J: Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the female genital tract: State of the art. Ann Med. 2012, 44 (1): 18-28. 10.3109/07853890.2010.546365.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Phillips KP, Tanphaichitr N: Mechanisms of obesity-induced male infertility. Expert Rev Endocrin Metabol. 2010, 5: 229-251. 10.1586/eem.09.65.CrossRef
8.
Sadeu JC, Hughes CL, Agarwal S, Foster WG: Alcohol, drugs, caffeine, tobacco, and environmental contaminant exposure: reproductive health consequences and clinical implications. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2010, 40 (7): 633-652. 10.3109/10408444.2010.493552.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology: Revised minimum standards for practices offering assisted reproductive technologies. Fertil Steril. 2003, 80: 1556-1559.CrossRef
10.
Bunting L, Tsibulsky I, Boivin J: Fertility knowledge and beliefs about fertility treatment: findings from the International Fertility Decision-making Study. Human Reprod. 2013, 28 (2): 385-397. 10.1093/humrep/des402.CrossRef
11.
12.
Martinez A, Phillips KP: La promotion de l’équité en éducation sexuelle dans les écoles secondaires de la région de la capitale nationale. [Promotion of equity in secondary school sexual education in the National Capital Region]. Can J Educ. 2009, 32 (1): 60-86.
13.
Phillips KP, Martinez A: Sexual and reproductive health education: contrasting teachers’, health partners’ and former students’ perspectives. Can J Public Health. 2010, 101 (5): 374-379.PubMed
14.
15.
Macaluso M, Wright-Schnapp TJ, Chandra A, Johnson R, Satterwhite CL, Pulver A: A public health focus on infertility prevention, detection, and management. Fertil Steril. 2010, 93 (1): 16-e1-10CrossRefPubMed
16.
Krewski D, Lemyre L, Turner MC, Lee JEC, Dallaire C, Bouchard L: Public perception of population health risks in Canada: Health hazards and sources of information. HERA. 2006, 12 (4): 626-644.
17.
Campbell P: Boundaries and risk: Media framing of assisted reproductive technologies and older mothers. Soc Sci Med. 2011, 72: 265-272. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.10.028.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Tydén T, Svanberg AS, Karlström PO, Lihoff L, Lampic C: Female university students’ attitudes to future motherhood and their understanding about fertility. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2006, 11: 181-189. 10.1080/13625180600557803.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Lampic C, Svanberg AS, Karlström P, Tydén T: Fertility awareness, intentions concerning childbearing, and attitudes towards parenthood among female and male academics. Human Reprod. 2006, 21: 558-564.CrossRef
20.
Svanberg AS, Lampic C, Karlström PO, Tydén T: Attitudes toward parenthood and awareness of fertility among postgraduate students in Sweden. Gender Med. 2006, 3 (3): 187-195. 10.1016/S1550-8579(06)80207-X.CrossRef
21.
Virtala A, Vilska S, Huttunen T, Kunttu K: Childbearing, the desire to have children, and awareness about the impact of age on female fertility among Finnish university students. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2011, 16 (2): 108-115. 10.3109/13625187.2011.553295.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Rovei V, Gennarelli G, Lantieri T, Casano S, Revelli A, Massobrio M: Family planning, fertility awareness and knowledge about Italian legislation on assisted reproduction among Italian academic students. Reprod Biomed Online. 2010, 20 (7): 873-879. 10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.03.024.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Peterson BD, Pirritano M, Tucker L, Lampic C: Fertility awareness and parenting attitudes among American male and female undergraduate university students. Human Reprod. 2012, 27 (5): 1375-1382. 10.1093/humrep/des011.CrossRef
24.
Bunting L, Boivin J: Knowledge about infertility risk factors, fertility myths and illusory benefits of healthy habits in young people. Human Reprod. 2008, 23: 1858-1864. 10.1093/humrep/den168.CrossRef
25.
Hashiloni-Dolev Y, Kaplan A, Shkedi-Rafid S: The fertility myth: Israeli students’ knowledge regarding age-related fertility decline and late pregnancies in an era of assisted reproduction technology. Hum Reprod. 2011, 26 (11): 3045-3053. 10.1093/humrep/der304.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Bretherick KL, Fairbrother N, Avila L, Harbord SH, Robinson WP: Fertility and aging: do reproductive-aged Canadian women know what they need to know?. Fertil Steril. 2010, 93 (7): 2162-2168. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.01.064.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Hammarberg K, Setter T, Norman RJ, Holden CA, Michelmore J, Johnson L: Knowledge about factors that influence fertility among Australians of reproductive age: a population-based survey. Fertil Steril. 2013, 99 (2): 502-507. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.10.031.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Daniluk JC, Koert E: The other side of the fertility coin: a comparison of childless men’s and women’s knowledge of fertility and assisted reproductive technology. Fertil Steril. 2013, 99: 839-846. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.10.033.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Quach S, Librach C: Infertility knowledge and attitudes in urban high school students. Fertil Steril. 2008, 90: 2099-2106. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.10.024.CrossRefPubMed
30.
O’Sullivan LF, Udell W, Montrose VA, Antoniello P, Hoffman S: A cognitive analysis of college students’ explanations for engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse. Arch Sex Behav. 2010, 39 (5): 1121-1131. 10.1007/s10508-009-9493-7.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Kempes-Grottenthaler A: Postponing or rejecting parenthood? Results of a survey among female academic professionals. J Biosoc Sci. 2003, 35: 213-226. 10.1017/S002193200300213X.CrossRef
32.
Andres L, Adamuti-Trache M: Life-course transitions, social class, and gender: A 15-year perspective of the lived lives of Canadian young adults. J Youth Stud. 2008, 11 (2): 115-145. 10.1080/13676260701800753.CrossRef
33.
Sandelowski M: Focus on research methods: Whatever happened to qualitative description?. Res Nurs Health. 2000, 23: 334-340. 10.1002/1098-240X(200008)23:4<334::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-G.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Miles MB, Huberman AM: Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. 1994, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ltd., 55-70.
35.
Morse JM: Designing funded qualitative research. Handbook of qualitative inquiry. Edited by: Denzin NK, Lincoln YS. 1994, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ltd, 220-235.
36.
Baird DT, Collins J, Egozcue J, Evers LH, Gianaroli L, Leridon H, ESHRE Capri Workshop Group: Fertility and ageing. Human Reprod. Update. 2005, 11 (3): 261-276.CrossRef
37.
Adashi EY, Cohen J, Hamberfer L, Jones HW, de Krestser DM, Jr LB: Public perception on infertility and its treatment: an international survey. Human Reprod. 2000, 15: 330-334. 10.1093/humrep/15.2.330.CrossRef
38.
Hawkins NA, Berkowitz Z, Peipins LA: What does the public know about preventing cancer? Results from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Health Educ Behav. 2010, 37 (4): 490-503. 10.1177/1090198106296770.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Fisher JD, Fisher WA, Misovich SJ, Kimble DL, Malloy TE: Changing AIDS risk behavior: Effects of an intervention emphasizing AIDS risk reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills in a college student population. Health Psych. 1996, 15 (2): 114-123.CrossRef
40.
Fisher JD, Fisher WA, Bryan AD, Misovich SJ: Information motivation behavioral skills model-based HIV risk behavior change intervention for inner-city high school youth. Health Psych. 2002, 21 (2): 177-186.CrossRef
41.
Tas S, Lauwerys R, Lison D: Occupational hazards for the male reproductive system. Crit Rev Toxicol. 1996, 26 (3): 261-307. 10.3109/10408449609012525.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Daniluk JC, Koert E, Cheung A: Childless women’s knowledge of fertility and assisted human reproduction: identifying the gaps. Fertil Steril. 2012, 97: 420-426. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.11.046.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Johnson SL, Gemmell NJ: Are old males still good males and can females tell the difference? Do hidden advantages of mating with old males off-set costs related to fertility, or are we missing something else?. Bioessays. 2012, 34 (7): 609-619. 10.1002/bies.201100157.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Silva LF, Oliveira JB, Petersen CG, Mauri AL, Massaro FC, Cavagna M, Baruffi RL, Franco JG: The effects of male age on sperm analysis by motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME). Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2012, 10: 19-10.1186/1477-7827-10-19.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
45.
Wyrobek AJ, Eskenazi B, Young S, Arnheim N, Tiemann-Boege I, Jabs EW, Glaser RL, Pearson FS, Evenson D: Advancing age has differential effects on DNA damage, chromatin integrity, gene mutations, and aneuploidies in sperm. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006, 103 (25): 9601-9606. 10.1073/pnas.0506468103.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
46.
Nijs M, De Jonge C, Cox A, Janssen M, Bosmans E, Ombelet W: Correlation between male age, WHO sperm parameters, DNA fragmentation, chromatin packaging and outcome in assisted reproduction technology. Andrologia. 2011, 43 (3): 174-179. 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2010.01040.x.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Brahem S, Mehdi M, Elghezal H, Saad A: The effects of male aging on semen quality, sperm DNA fragmentation and chromosomal abnormalities in an infertile population. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011, 28 (5): 425-432. 10.1007/s10815-011-9537-5.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
48.
Winkle T, Rosenbusch B, Gagsteiger F, Paiss T, Zoller N: The correlation between male age, sperm quality and sperm DNA fragmentation in 320 men attending a fertility center. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2009, 26 (1): 41-46. 10.1007/s10815-008-9277-3.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Walschaerts M, Bujan L, Isus F, Parinaud J, Mieusset R, Thonneau P: Cumulative parenthood rates in 1735 couples: impact of male factor infertility. Human Reprod. 2012, 27 (4): 1184-1190. 10.1093/humrep/der466.CrossRef
50.
Matorras R, Matorras F, Expósito A, Martinez L, Crisol L: Decline in human fertility rates with male age: a consequence of a decrease in male fecundity with aging?. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2011, 71 (4): 229-235. 10.1159/000319236.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Whitcomb BW, Turzanski-Fortner R, Richter KS, Kipersztok S, Stillman RJ, Levy MJ, Levens ED: Contribution of male age to outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies. Fertil Steril. 2011, 95 (1): 147-151. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.06.039.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Paulson RJ, Milligan RC, Sokol RZ: The lack of influence of age on male fertility. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001, 184 (5): 818-822. 10.1067/mob.2001.113852.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Schmidt L, Sobotka T, Bentzen JG, Nyboe Andersen A, ESHRE Reproduction and Society Task Force: Demographic and medical consequences of the postponement of parenthood. Human Reprod Update. 2012, 18 (1): 29-43. 10.1093/humupd/dmr040.CrossRef
54.
Tough SC, Newburn-Cook C, Johnston DW, Svenson LW, Rose S, Belik J: Delayed childbearing and its impact on population rate changes in lower birth weight, multiple birth, and preterm delivery. Pediatrics. 2002, 109: 399-403. 10.1542/peds.109.3.399.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Heffner LJ: Advanced maternal age—how old is too old?. N Engl J Med. 2004, 351: 1927-1929. 10.1056/NEJMp048087.CrossRefPubMed
56.
57.
Ochsendorf FR: Sexually transmitted infections: impact on male fertility. Andrologia. 2008, 40 (2): 72-75. 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2007.00825.x.CrossRefPubMed
58.
Bunting L, Boivin J: Development and preliminary validation of the fertility status awareness tool: FertiSTAT. Human Reprod. 2010, 25 (7): 1722-1733. 10.1093/humrep/deq087.CrossRef
59.
Gunby J, Bissonnette F, Librach C, Cowan L, IVF Directors Group of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society: Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Canada: 2007 results from the Canadian ART Register. Fertil Steril. 2011, 95 (2): 542-10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.05.057. 7.e1-10CrossRefPubMed
60.
Sunderam S, Kissin DM, Flowers L, Anderson JE, Folger SG, Jamieson DJ, Barfield WD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Assisted reproductive technology surveillance–United States, 2009. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2012, 61 (7): 1-23.PubMed
61.
Daniluk JC, Koert E: Childless Canadian men’s and women’s childbearing intentions, attitudes towards and willingness to use assisted human reproduction. Human Reprod. 2012, 27 (8): 240512-CrossRef
62.
Inhorn MC, Birenbaum-Carmeli D: Assisted reproductive technologies and culture change. Ann Rev Anthropol. 2008, 37: 177-196. 10.1146/annurev.anthro.37.081407.085230.CrossRef
63.
Inhorn MC, Ceballo R, Nachtigall R: Marginalized, invisible, and unwanted: American minority struggles with infertility and assisted conception. Marginalized Reproduction: Ethnicity, Infertility and Reproductive Technologies. Edited by: Culley L, Hudson N, Van Rooij F. 2009, Sterling, VA: Earthscan, 181-197.
64.
Mezmur BD: From Angelina (to Madonna) to Zoe’s Ark: What are the ‘A–Z’ lessons for intercountry adoptions in Africa?. Int J Law Pol Fam. 2009, 23: 145-173. 10.1093/lawfam/ebn013.CrossRef
65.
66.
Lamoureux SA, Diaz V, Mallette A, Mercier P, Daoust J-L, Bourdages J: Linguistic Heterogeneity and Non-Traditional Pathways to Postsecondary Education in Ontario. Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, Contract file 11/12-EOI-RFP-005-05 - HEQCO. In press
67.
Ross LE, Steele LS, Epstein R: Lesbian and bisexual women's recommendations for improving the provision of assisted reproductive technology services. Fertil Steril. 2006, 86 (3): 735-738. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.01.049.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
A qualitative study of Ottawa university students’ awareness, knowledge and perceptions of infertility, infertility risk factors and assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
Authors
Kelley-Anne Sabarre
Zainab Khan
Amanda N Whitten
Olivia Remes
Karen P Phillips
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1742-4755
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-10-41

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

Reproductive Health 1/2013 Go to the issue

Erratum

Erratum to: Knowledge of safe motherhood among women in rural communities in northern Nigeria: implications for maternal mortality reduction

Research

An all time low utilization of intrauterine contraceptive device as a birth spacing method- a qualitative descriptive study in district Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Study protocol

COHELLP: collaborative randomized controlled trial on corticosteroids in HELLP syndrome

Research

Low prevalence of contraceptive counseling at Srinagarind hospital, Thailand among women of reproductive age with systemic lupus erythematosus

Research

Association of programmatic factors with low contraceptive prevalence rates in a rural area of Bangladesh

Research

Predictors of sexual abstinence among Wolaita Sodo University Students, South Ethiopia