Men's knowledge of male infertility and the possibilities for supporting therapy: risk factors and individual responses

Abstract

In recent decades, the incidence of male infertility has been increasing continuously both worldwide and in Hungary and is becoming a more and more central issue. Millions of men at the reproductive age are affected by male infertility. In addition to the known organic reasons, many life-style and environmental factors can be expected to contribute to this. The biopsychosocial theoretical model of infertility allows us to interpret the lack of fertility not only from the medical point of view, but also as a psychosocial phenomenon. Men's coping strategies, health information seeking habits, and knowledge of infertility are similar to women's, but there are several different points in their responses given to the problem. So medical, nursing and other health professionals dealing with infertile male patients should devote special and high attention to patients' conducting and paramedical counselling as supportive therapy. Within the framework of this - besides giving information - the individual support contributes to the elaboration of information, arising effects and experiences, furthermore to the developement of adaptive coping strategies for stress, and to the modification of direct or indirect changes in health behavior affecting reproductive health during the treatment period. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(31): 1262-1268.