MP21-07 PERCEPTIONS OF FERTILITY AMONG MEN WITH ABNORMAL SEMEN PARAMETERS WHO HAVE NOT UNDERGONE UROLOGIC EVALUATION

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyInfertility: Epidemiology & Evaluation I (MP21)1 Sep 2021MP21-07 PERCEPTIONS OF FERTILITY AMONG MEN WITH ABNORMAL SEMEN PARAMETERS WHO HAVE NOT UNDERGONE UROLOGIC EVALUATION Minh Pham, Siddhant Ambulkar, Richard Fantus, Matthew Hudnall, Jeremy Lai, James Wren, Nelson Bennett, Gregory Auffenberg, David Chu, Robert Brannigan, and Joshua Halpern Minh PhamMinh Pham More articles by this author , Siddhant AmbulkarSiddhant Ambulkar More articles by this author , Richard FantusRichard Fantus More articles by this author , Matthew HudnallMatthew Hudnall More articles by this author , Jeremy LaiJeremy Lai More articles by this author , James WrenJames Wren More articles by this author , Nelson BennettNelson Bennett More articles by this author , Gregory AuffenbergGregory Auffenberg More articles by this author , David ChuDavid Chu More articles by this author , Robert BranniganRobert Brannigan More articles by this author , and Joshua HalpernJoshua Halpern More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002006.07AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Reproductive endocrinologists (REI) are the gatekeepers for infertility care and often initiate the male partner evaluation, including the order and review of semen testing. This may lead to patient misperceptions regarding fertility status and whether to pursue urologic evaluation. In these men, we aimed to evaluate patient perceptions of fertility status after REI evaluation. METHODS: We surveyed adult men with abnormal semen analyses over a 1-year period who did not see a reproductive urologist. Questionnaires were administered by email and/or telephone, collecting demographic and clinical data, as well as perceptions of reproductive health. Primary self-reported outcomes were: 1) Did the patient recall being informed of an abnormal semen test result? 2) Did the patient consider their fertility status abnormal? A secondary outcome was urology referral. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit, adjusting for abnormal semen parameters. RESULTS: Of 310 men contacted, 85 (27.4%) responded. After excluding men who reported seeing a urologist, our cohort included 75 men. Seventeen (22.6%) men recalled being told their semen analysis was abnormal, and 14 (18.7%) understood their fertility was abnormal. Multivariable logistic regression (Table) showed that oligospermia, but not other semen parameter abnormalities, was significantly associated with men being told their semen analysis was abnormal (odds ratio [OR]: 7.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.77–32.1; p=0.006) & believing they had abnormal fertility (OR: 5.78; 95% CI: 1.22–27.3, p=0.027). Only 6 (8%) men reported receiving a referral to urology. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of men with impaired semen parameters seen by REI-only had inaccurate perceptions of their semen test results and fertility status. This was accompanied by a low rate of urologic referral, which represents missed opportunities for male partner evaluation. These data highlight the critical role for the reproductive urologist in counseling and caring for couples presenting for initial fertility evaluation. Source of Funding: Grant support K23DK125670 (NIDDK) to Dr. Chu © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e348-e348 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Minh Pham More articles by this author Siddhant Ambulkar More articles by this author Richard Fantus More articles by this author Matthew Hudnall More articles by this author Jeremy Lai More articles by this author James Wren More articles by this author Nelson Bennett More articles by this author Gregory Auffenberg More articles by this author David Chu More articles by this author Robert Brannigan More articles by this author Joshua Halpern More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...