Perceptions Of Infertility Research Articles

Perceptions of Infertility and Reproductive Concerns in Adolescent and Young Adult Female Cancer Survivors.

This cross-sectional survey study explores the fertility perceptions of adolescent and young adult female cancer survivors (n = 111) and relationships to fertility counseling and reproductive distress. Satisfaction with post-treatment fertility counseling (β = -0.20, p = 0.04), perceived consequences of cancer-related fertility changes (β = 0.26, p = 0.03), and understanding of one's reproductive health (β = -0.22, p = 0.03) correlated with reproductive distress, controlling for covariates (F(10, 88) = 3.50, p < 0.001). Findings suggest that post-treatment counseling may be important to addressing survivors' perceptions of fertility and reproductive potential, which influences levels of distress and to create a greater sense of control on their road to parenthood.

Exploring The Psychological Experiences Of Women With Infertility In Urban Ghana: A Qualitative Study

Objective: To explore experiences of women seeking treatment in Ashanti region of Ghana regarding infertility and its effect on daily living. Methodology: A qualitative study utilizing content analysis approach. Purposive sampling of 18 women with infertility who sought infertility treatment as referral cases in Kumasi, Ashanti Region were selected for a semi-structured in-depth interview after giving informed consent. Results: Four main themes emerged as participants’ perception of infertility and its consequences on their daily lives. These include: “abuse”, “marital instability”, “social isolation”, and “loss of self-esteem.” The most predominant theme was “loss of self-esteem”. Infertility was found to influence both psychological and social well-being of affected women. Conclusion: Infertility imposes significant impairment on the emotional, psychological and social well-being of women in Ghana. These include isolation, abuse, loss of self-esteem, and marital instability. What is already known? Infertility may impose psychological distress on affected couples. What did study add? This study reveals the extent to which infertility-related distress affects the daily living experience of women in Ghana, including physical abuse. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy? The severity of the psychological burden of infertility is worse on women and this could be mitigated if the associated high costs of infertility treatment are subsidized.

Knowledge and perceptions of infertility among adults in Anekal Taluk Hospital, Karnataka

Knowledge and perceptions of infertility among adults in Anekal Taluk Hospital, Karnataka

Infertile Women's Perceptions of Infertility: A Phenomenological Study Based on Metaphor Analysis

Backround: Infertility is an increasing health problem which affects 10-15% of couples across the world. Infertility can cause various psychosocial problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, social isolation and stigmatization during the diagnosis and treatment process. Objective: The study was designed to reveal what kinds of cognitive images (metaphors) women produce in defining infertility, why they produce them and whether the metaphors produced by them differ depending on their professional culture. Methods: This study is a qualitative research carried out based on metaphor analysis in phenomenology design. The study was conducted with 15 participants. The data were collected by the researcher between May-July 2019. Results: The metaphors revealed by participants on what infertility meant to them, according to their Professional culture, included dry and fruitless tree, a defective human, cube, cactus and rose, empty tin can, hope and snowdrop, orzo, parasite, national lottery ticket, stock market, figures, surprise egg, bird, a slowly filled lake, and a disease that is very difficult to treat for infertility. Conclusion: Metaphors reflect the beliefs, values and norms of individuals. According to the findings, we can understand and comment infertile women’s perceptions on infertility and what the infertility means for them.

Perceptions of Infertility and Semen Analysis Testing Among American Men Without Children

ObjectiveTo determine whether health-conscious men are more likely to be concerned about infertility and self-initiate semen analysis at a laboratory/clinic or through a direct-to-consumer at-home product without a health care provider recommendation. MethodsCross-sectional survey conducted online via ResearchMatch.org between November 2019 and January 2020. Men age 18 and older without children (n = 634) were included for analysis. Outcomes were likelihood of self-initiating a semen analysis, prevalence of infertility concern. ResultsOf the 634 participants, 186 expressed concern about infertility but only 29% were likely to discuss these concerns with a health care provider. More men would self-initiate a semen analysis using an at-home product than through a traditional laboratory/clinic (14.2% vs 10.4%, P = .04). Odds of self-initiating a traditional semen analysis were higher for men concerned about low testosterone (odds ratio [OR] 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-4.74, P = .023) and infertility (OR 3.91, 95% CI 2.14-7.15, P <.001). Self-initiating an at-home semen analysis was associated with concern for low testosterone and infertility as well as middle age (age 40-59: OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.16-7.88, P = .024) and fitness tracker use (OR: 1.95, 95% CI 1.12-3.39, P = .018). ConclusionMany men were unlikely to discuss infertility concerns with a health care provider. Middle aged men and those who used fitness trackers were more likely to self-initiate fertility evaluation through at-home semen analysis. Concern about low serum testosterone was pervasive and strongly associated with concern for being infertile and self-initiating a semen analysis of any kind.

Knowledge, Perception, Myths and Health Seeking Behaviour on Infertility Among Men and Women Attending Selected Hospitals in Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Infertility is medically defined as the inability to achieve a pregnancy after a year or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It causes great worry and sorrow for many couples in Africa, especially for the women. Medical evidence shows that men and women usually have the same rates of infertility. This study therefore investigated the knowledge, perception, myths and health seeking behaviour on infertility among men and women attending selected hospitals in Ogun state, Nigeria. Methods: The study employed descriptive cross-sectional design. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 272 participants for the study. A 70-item validated semi-structured questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.77 was used to collect data. The knowledge variable was measures on 27-point rating score and perception was measured on 27-point scale. The health seeking behaviour was measured on 9-point scale. Frequency, correlation, and linear regression analysis were conducted to give statistical responses to the research questions and hypotheses using IBM-SPSS version 25. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 33.27 ±8.7years and 204(75%) of the respondents were female. Most 172(63.2%) of the respondents were of the Christian faith, 149(54.8) of the respondents had a tertiary education, less than half 131(48.2%) of the respondents were self-employed and majority of the respondents were married 220(80.9%). The respondents’ knowledge on infertility measured on a 27points knowledge scale, rating showed a mean score of 14.81±3.48. The respondents’ perception on infertility measured on a 27-point rating scale, showed a mean of 14.45±3.52, and the respondents’ health seeking behaviour was measured on a 9-points scale rating with a respondents mean score of 5.20±1.97. Majority 238(87.5%) of the respondents knew that infertility can be prevented, of those who stated that infertility can be prevented reported the following means, health education on reproduction 225(94.5%), fertility awareness 226 (95%), and early treatment of sexually transmitted disease 236(99.1%) Majority 209(76.8%) of the respondents knew that infertility can be treated. Less than half 100(36.8%) of the respondents disagreed that infertility is not a serious problem, while 91(33.5%) opposed to the idea that infertility is only serious in African society. The knowledge and health seeking behaviour (r=0.22; p=0.00) (R=0.22; R2=0.04; p&lt;0.05), perception and health-seeking behaviour (r=0.14; p=0.02) (R=0.14; R2=0.02; p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion the respondents had adequate knowledge and perception of infertility. Majority of the respondents’ health seeking behaviour included the use of traditional and orthodox medicine. Majority of the respondents had poor health-seeking behaviour.

003 Characteristics of Men Who Use Direct to Consumer Men’s Health Telemedicine Services in an Online Population

For the technologically adept man, the use of online direct-to-consumer (DTC) men’s health services such as Hims® and Roman® offer convenience, accessibility, and discretion when pursuing care for sensitive issues such as erectile dysfunction. Characteristics of the users of these telemedicine services have not been well described. We surveyed a population of adult men to determine their perception of infertility and semen analysis, as well as their use of online men’s health services.

Support or stressor? The community as a predictor of perceptions of infertility

ABSTRACT Perceptions of women experiencing infertility may influence their coping and psychological adjustment. This study examined the influence of community pressure and support on the perception of fertility problems among 156 women in religious Jewish societies in Israel, undergoing fertility treatment. Regression analyses indicated that perceptions of pressure from the community were associated with more problematic consequences and problem severity and timeline, while perceptions of community support were simultaneously associated with lower levels of loss of control and higher levels of problematic consequences. Thus, social work interventions should consider ways to increase support, while reducing the stress resulting from it.

PERCEPTIONS OF INFERTILITY AND SEMEN ANALYSIS TESTING AMONG MEN WITHOUT CHILDREN

Adult men, particularly those in the millennial generation (age 25-40) and younger, are increasingly targeted by direct-to-consumer (DTC) companies offering diagnosis and treatment of men’s health conditions, including home semen testing. However, perceptions of infertility among adult men not actively attempting to conceive and their willingness to undergo semen analysis are not well understood. We hypothesized that men proactive about their health are more likely to be concerned about infertility and undergo semen analysis without a healthcare provider recommendation. Online survey study conducted via ResearchMatch.com. We surveyed men age 18 and older without children (n=634). Sociodemographic data (age, education, income, insurance, relationship status) were collected. Survey questions included 5-point Likert items assessing level of concern and likelihood of performing a particular action, such as discussing infertility with a physician or conducting a semen analysis test without a physician recommendation. Responses were dichotomized and logistic regression estimated the association between participant characteristics and outcomes of interest. The majority of men (54.7%) were aged 18-39 and in a romantic relationship (55.2%). Only 186 (29.3%) men expressed concern about infertility, whereas 391 (62%) expressed concern about low testosterone. Among men concerned about infertility, 23.4% were unlikely to discuss infertility concerns with a health care provider. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with infertility concern included younger age (age 18-39: OR 4.48, 95% CI 2.23-9.03, p<0.001), being single (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-0.97, p=0.037), and concern about low testosterone (OR 5.28, 95% CI 3.32-8.40, p<0.001). Of all respondents, 10.4% would obtain a semen analysis without a health care provider recommendation. This increased to 14.2% if the test could be performed at home (p=0.04). Factors associated with likelihood to pursue semen analysis included post-graduate degree (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.11-0.72, p=0.009), frequency of doctor visits (1-2 in last year: OR 4.05, 95% CI 1.11-14.83, p=0.034), concern about low testosterone (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.12-4.74, p=0.023), and concern about infertility (OR 3.91, 95% CI 2.14-7.15, p<0.001). Regular exercise, fitness tracker use, and use of DTC services such as Hims®, Roman®, or 23andMe® were not associated with increased likelihood. Millennial and younger men were more concerned about infertility than older men, but many were unlikely to discuss infertility concerns with a healthcare provider. These men were not more inclined to pursue a semen analysis without a health care provider recommendation, even after accounting for use of other DTC health care services. Concerns about low testosterone were pervasive and are strongly associated with both infertility concern and likelihood of self-initiating a semen analysis.

Individual and community-level impact of infertility-related stigma in Malawi.

Infertility, a common experience among women and men worldwide, remains on the margins of public health and medicine in low-resource settings. Previous studies identified associations between individual experiences of infertility and negative outcomes, particularly in contexts where childbearing is imperative, but few have examined broader implications of infertility and infertility-related stigma on communities. To understand the production and impact of infertility-related stigma, this study analyzes 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with 104 women and men in rural Malawi. FGDs, conducted July-September 2018, were used to elicit the range of community norms around family formation, pregnancy, fertility, and infertility. Data were analyzed through memo-ing during and after data collection and collaborative, thematic coding. We found that stigma manifested within existing systems of gender and power. Aligning with Link and Phelan's stigma framework (2001) there were three primary mechanisms by which infertility-related stigma was produced and reinforced: labeling of a person perceived to be infertile (i.e., establishing 'other'), perpetuating negative stereotypes associated with suspected causes of infertility (e.g., abortion, multiple sexual partners, weak sperm), and consequences of infertility that reinforced stigma (e.g., social ridicule and distancing, divorce). Labels, presumed causes, and consequences of infertility were entrenched within gender and sexuality norms. Women perceived as infertile were unable to follow a normative path to achieving adult status, presumed to be sexually transgressive, and considered "useless." Men's masculinity was questioned. Both women's and men's identities, as well as social positions within relationships and communities, were threatened by perceptions of infertility. Ultimately, the manifestation of infertility-related stigma contributed to an environment wherein the risk of being perceived as infertile was highly consequential and unrelenting. Pervasive stigma, at the community-level, impacts decisions around contraceptive use and timing of childbearing, as women and men not only wanted to avoid infertility, but also the appearance of infertility.

Discrepancy in perception of infertility and attitude towards treatment options: Indonesian urban and rural area

BackgroundIn Indonesia infertility affects 10–15% of reproductive-age couples. In addition to medical problem, infertility in Indonesia poses significant social problem. Childlessness is often stigmatized as a failure which victimizes couples, moreover the females. Despite the high prevalence, there is no fertility awareness education which further passes down the common myth, misperception, and negative attitude towards infertility treatment in Indonesian society.ObjectiveThis study aims to reveal the knowledge, myth, and attitude towards infertility, likewise acceptance towards infertility treatment options.MethodCross-sectional study using standardized questionnaire was done to 272 individuals consisted of two parallel groups: Jakarta and Sumba representing urban and rural population respectively. Participants were all outpatients above 18 years old who visited the healthcare centers from February 2017 to June 2017.ResultsKnowledge on biological and lifestyle risk factors of infertility among Jakarta and Sumba groups were comparable. However, belief in supernatural causes of infertility is remarkable in Sumba population. There is a common misconception on the use of contraception as risk factors of infertility in both groups.Half respondents from both groups think infertility is a disease. In Jakarta 93.4% respondents consider both female and male should be investigated for infertility; in Sumba only 55.4% agree while 33.1% consider only female should be investigated. Infertility is an acceptable reason for polygamy for 41.3% respondents in Sumba, with 34.7% blaming maternal side for childlessness.Most respondents from both groups accept the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology and fertility enhancing drugs as treatment options.ConclusionLack of understanding, misleading myths, and negative attitude towards infertility have been illustrated in the sample population.

Perceptions of Infertility among women in United Arab Emirates: a qualitative study

Perceptions of Infertility among women in United Arab Emirates: a qualitative study

Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of infertility: a national survey

The negative psychosocial impact from infertility on patients and couples is well-established; however, little is known about the general public’s knowledge and perception of infertility. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of the general U.S. population regarding the causes, prevalence, and emotional effect of infertility, and to investigate the relationships between prior infertility history, obstetric history, birth control use, and race on these beliefs. Internet survey. A 46-question survey was developed by the authors in Qualtrics. One-thousand respondents were recruited for a small monetary incentive to complete the survey via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) in February 2018. Individuals were eligible if they were American residents and aged 18 to 69 years at the time of the survey. Responses were analyzed with Chi-squared test, Fisher exact test, and logistic regression where appropriate, using SAS software, Version 9.4. Nine-hundred ninety-three (99.3%) respondents completed the survey. Respondents predominantly identified as non-Hispanic White (79%), followed by Black or African American (7.8%), Hispanic White (6.8%), and Asian (6.6%). 73% of respondents were between age 21 and 40 years. 68% of the respondents were female, and of those, 67% had previously been pregnant, 44% had experienced a miscarriage, and 19% had a history of pregnancy termination. 24% of respondents reported that they and/or their partner had a history of infertility. 53% of respondents believed more than 20% of individuals will experience infertility in their lifetime, with individuals with a history infertility estimating a higher incidence of infertility in the population than those without that history (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.7). The majority of respondents feel that infertility treatment should be covered by insurance (70%) and that women undergoing fertility treatment should have paid time off to for those appointments (54%). Commonly believed causes of infertility included past use of birth control pills (48%), alcohol and/or drug use (75%), having had an abortion (45%), and prior use of an intrauterine device (48%). 45% of respondents felt that race had an effect on fertility. Respondents were more likely to identify their own race as having the highest rate of infertility (OR 8.0, 95% CI 4.9-12.8) and to identify a different race as having the lowest rate of infertility (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8). Among a national sample of adults in the United States, knowledge and perceptions about the causes and incidence of infertility vary. Misperceptions about the causes of infertility are common, and this diminished health literacy may predispose individuals to inequity in access to fertility care. Providers may benefit from learning of these common misperceptions and the associated risk factors in order to tailor patient education and community outreach programs to improve health literacy, eliminate misperceptions around the diagnosis of infertility, and improve access to care.

Knowledge and perceptions of infertility in female cancer survivors and their parents

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and perceptions of infertility, reproductive concerns, quality of life, and emotional burden of fertility concerns in adolescent female cancer survivors and their parents.MethodsA cross-sectional design was used to investigate reproductive knowledge and concerns among female childhood cancer survivors and their parents. The instruments administered at a single, routine visit were the 13-item knowledge instrument, Adolescent Fertility Values Clarification Tool (VCT), Impact of Event Scale (IES), and Pediatrics Quality of Life Assessment (PedsQL). The knowledge instrument was given to both patients and caregivers, while the PedsQL and VCT were given to only patients and IES only to caregivers.ResultsTwenty-six survivors and 23 parents completed evaluations. The mean age of survivors was 16. The mean knowledge instrument score for survivors was 9.5 (± 1.9) and 9.96 (± 1.7) for parents with a maximum possible score of 13. The VCT indicated almost all patients agreed or strongly agreed they would like more information on how their treatment may affect their fertility, with 84.6% identified wanting a baby in the future. The mean survivor PedsQL score was 67.7 (± 15.3). While parental IES scores as whole did not endorse symptoms of PTSD, 30% of our sample did fall within the range for PTSD.ConclusionAlthough this population of women has above average knowledge scores, they still demonstrated a desire for more information on reproduction after cancer therapy. While PedsQL scores fell within a normal range, survivors report infertility would cause negative emotions.Implication for cancer survivorsThis information can be used refine educational programs within survivorship clinics to improve knowledge of post-treatment reproductive health.

Perceptions of Infertility as a Barrier to Cervical Cancer Screening in Rural Botswana: A Qualitative Study

Perceptions of Infertility as a Barrier to Cervical Cancer Screening in Rural Botswana: A Qualitative Study

Psychosocial needs of women and their partners after successful assisted reproduction treatment in Barcelona.

It is assumed that pregnancy and parenthood after a period of infertility are unproblematic and gratifying. However, a review of the literature highlights the complexity of the psychological and social consequences of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting after successful treatment with assisted reproductive technology. These experiences, including those following the creation of new forms of non-genetic and/or social parenthood, require investigation in order to understand how women and their partners integrate their journey from infertility to pregnancy and parenthood after successful assisted reproductive treatment. This paper presents results derived from qualitative interviews with 30 pregnant women and 21 couples after assisted reproductive treatment (repeated rounds of individual interviews with the study participants) conducted from July 2010 to April 2014 as part of a larger ethnographic study exploring the psychosocial needs of women and partners following assisted reproductive treatment in Barcelona’s. The transcribed text was coded into categories of either predetermined or emergent topics. Prior studies have found that couples who achieve pregnancy after infertility may experience higher levels of anxiety in relation to pregnancy. This anxiety can be linked with a higher risk of complications during pregnancy after assisted reproductive treatment compared with spontaneous conception. However, the evidence concerning adjustment to pregnancy and parenthood is inconclusive. This study highlights the necessity for participants to give meaning to these treatments, given the variability that exists in perceptions of infertility and pregnancy after successful assisted reproductive treatment.

Exploring Infertility from the Cultural Context of Latino College Students: Results from a Preliminary Focus Group.

Despite a racial/ethnic disparity, little research has examined minority group perceptions of infertility. After developing a 15-question English-language focus group guide, 13 Latino college students (ages 19-22) at a Midwestern university were recruited to participate in a focus group to discuss their perceptions of infertility in the context of their family and culture. The focus group was audio recorded, professionally transcribed, and analyzed according to the constructed Grounded Theory approach. Three major themes were identified: 1) infertility is not considered when looking towards the future; 2) infertility is not discussed due to shame; and 3) infertility does not require a medical resolution. College students have the opportunity to make lifestyle modifications that can optimize fertility, but intention to change behavior is contingent on accurate fertility knowledge, which is often influenced by cultural norms. Our results suggest that these Latino students do not consider infertility a risk in their future lives nor is infertility something they consider should be explicitly discussed. Importantly, they do not perceive the need for medical interventions when addressing infertility, which carries implications for treatment seeking. When creating educational interventions for infertility, it is important to take into account the cultural lens through which infertility is understood.

Awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of infertility, fertility assessment, and assisted reproductive technologies in the era of oocyte freezing among female and male university students

The aims of our study were to analyze university student's knowledge and attitude towards parenthood, female fertility, fertility assessment, and oocyte freezing and to explore associations between these aspects and the participant's sex or degree program they were registered for. The study was designed as an online-based cross-sectional survey. A total of 1144 participants answered 27 questions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Linear regression models were employed to explore associations between sex or university program and attitude towards parenthood, fertility assessment, and oocyte freezing. Female students and students of non-medical degree programs were more likely to plan to have children earlier than male students or students of medical degree programs. Female sex or medical degree program was associated with an overall better knowledge about women's fertility. The better the participant's knowledge about fertility, the more likely the students would consider assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments as an option to become pregnant when ovarian reserve is low. The majority of students knew the principal of oocyte freezing but would not consider using it. However, in the case of a low ovarian reserve, oocyte freezing would be accepted as an option. Students planned to have children at an age when women's fertility is already declining. Gaps in knowledge about female fertility and the potential of ART were more pronounced in male students and students of non-medical degree programs suggesting an increase of fertility awareness is necessary in these groups to prevent them from infertility and unwanted childlessness.

Is Any Press Good Press? The Impact of Media Portrayals of Infertility on Young Adults' Perceptions of Infertility.

Infertility is an issue of current concern across North America. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada advocates for public education regarding infertility issues. Public education is supposed to be a fundamental objective of news media. However, it is uncertain whether the media are acting as good partners to the medical profession in this objective of educating the public, and young women in particular. Recent findings suggest that print news tends to present infertility using high-alarm framing strategies; however, the impact of this framing on news consumers is unknown. The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of high- versus low-alarm frames on consumers of infertility-related news. In this experiment, 131 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to read infertility-focused news articles judged to employ either high- or low-alarm framing strategies in presenting infertility. Participants subsequently completed various psychological, emotional, and knowledge measures to gauge the impact of the news exposure. The participants exposed to the high-alarm framing showed higher levels of perceived personal susceptibility to infertility, marginally higher levels of worry about infertility, and significantly lower levels of infertility-related knowledge than those exposed to the low-alarm framing. The manner in which the news media report on infertility has repercussions on how individuals think and feel about infertility. The findings of this study can inform health care providers about how the media are shaping perceptions of infertility, and can assist professional bodies interested in undertaking public education initiatives.

PERCEPTIONS OF INFERTILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG WOMEN TREATED WITH IVF

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this paper is to determine the association between infertility perception and perceived quality of life of women treated with In Vitro Fertilization.&#x0D; Background: Infertility is characterized by the inability to conceive for a year, despite the ongoing efforts. Studies have indicated that the problem affects the quality of life of women. &#x0D; Although they did not examined the relationship between the perception of the problem and quality of life of those women.&#x0D; Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional design&#x0D; Methods: Eighty women (average age of 31 years), attending the IVF clinic, completed the IPQ-R and Multidimensional QOL questionnaires. &#x0D; Results: We found significant negative associations between identity, consequences, timeline and causes of the problem components of IPQ-R and the level of perceived quality of life. Specifically quality of life was negatively associated with perceptions of infertility as a problem, longer timeline, the number of symptoms attributed to infertility, emotional representation and the consequences of this problem. Four significant factors were found to explain the quality of life of these women: problem identity; symptom relevance; Perception of problem; and the number of perceived internal causes.&#x0D; Conclusions: There is a significant impact of the illness perception components on quality of life of women's undergoing IVF treatments. &#x0D; Relevance to clinical practice: There is rising need for appreciation and recognition of the concept of infertility in women who undergo IVF treatments in order to plan appropriate interventions to improve their quality of life.