title: A qualitative study of Ottawa university students' awareness, knowledge and perceptions of infertility, infertility risk factors and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
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.
authors: Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Kelley-Anne
authors: KA
authors: Sabarre
authors: Zainab
authors: Z
authors: Khan
authors: Amanda N
authors: AN
authors: Whitten
authors: Olivia
authors: O
authors: Remes
authors: Karen P
authors: KP
authors: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009864:Ontario; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities
references: Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2003 Apr;17(2):169-85
references: 12758094
references: Hum Reprod. 2000 Feb;15(2):330-4
references: 10655304
references: Health Educ Behav. 2010 Aug;37(4):490-503
references: 17478600
references: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Jun 20;103(25):9601-6
references: 16766665
references: Hum Reprod. 2013 Feb;28(2):385-97
references: 23184181
references: Hum Reprod. 2006 Feb;21(2):558-64
references: 16293651
references: Hum Reprod. 2012 Mar;27(3):738-46
references: 22258658
references: Fertil Steril. 2003 Dec;80(6):1556-9
references: 14667923
references: MMWR Surveill Summ. 2012 Nov 2;61(7):1-23
references: 23114281
references: J Assist Reprod Genet. 2009 Jan;26(1):41-6
references: 19030983
references: Can J Public Health. 2010 Sep-Oct;101(5):374-9
references: 21214051
references: Fertil Steril. 2012 Feb;97(2):420-6
references: 22192349
references: Fertil Steril. 2010 May 1;93(7):2162-8
references: 19296943
references: Hum Reprod. 2012 May;27(5):1375-82
references: 22407698
references: Arch Sex Behav. 2010 Oct;39(5):1121-31
references: 19365717
references: Hum Reprod. 2010 Jul;25(7):1722-33
references: 20410218
references: Hum Reprod. 2012 Apr;27(4):1184-90
references: 22271929
references: Andrologia. 2008 Apr;40(2):72-5
references: 18336453
references: Reprod Biomed Online. 2010 Jun;20(7):873-9
references: 20418165
references: Crit Rev Toxicol. 2010 Aug;40(7):633-52
references: 20662712
references: Matern Child Health J. 2007 Mar;11(2):189-98
references: 17237994
references: J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2008 Mar;11(3-4):188-220
references: 18368553
references: Fertil Steril. 2006 Sep;86(3):735-8
references: 16831438
references: Ann Med. 2012 Feb;44(1):18-28
references: 21284529
references: Fertil Steril. 2011 Jan;95(1):147-51
references: 20663496
references: Andrologia. 2011 Jun;43(3):174-9
references: 21561463
references: Fertil Steril. 2013 Feb;99(2):502-7
references: 23158832
references: Hum Reprod. 2011 Nov;26(11):3045-53
references: 21908467
references: Res Nurs Health. 2000 Aug;23(4):334-40
references: 10940958
references: Health Psychol. 1996 Mar;15(2):114-23
references: 8681919
references: Gend Med. 2006 Sep;3(3):187-95
references: 17081952
references: N Engl J Med. 2004 Nov 4;351(19):1927-9
references: 15525717
references: Fertil Steril. 2008 Dec;90(6):2099-106
references: 18321500
references: Crit Rev Toxicol. 1996 May;26(3):261-307
references: 8726164
references: Fertil Steril. 2011 Feb;95(2):542-7.e1-10
references: 20656287
references: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Apr;184(5):818-22; discussion 822-4
references: 11303188
references: Health Psychol. 2002 Mar;21(2):177-86
references: 11950108
references: Soc Sci Med. 2011 Jan;72(2):265-72
references: 21131118
references: Pediatrics. 2002 Mar;109(3):399-403
references: 11875131
references: Hum Reprod. 2012 Aug;27(8):2405-12
references: 22684907
references: Fertil Steril. 2010 Jan;93(1):16.e1-10
references: 18992879
references: Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2006 Sep;11(3):181-9
references: 17056448
references: J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2008 Mar;11(3-4):162-76
references: 18368551
references: Hum Reprod Update. 2012 Jan-Feb;18(1):29-43
references: 21989171
references: Bioessays. 2012 Jul;34(7):609-19
references: 22581618
references: Fertil Steril. 2013 Mar 1;99(3):839-46
references: 23148926
references: J Biosoc Sci. 2003 Apr;35(2):213-26
references: 12664959
references: Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2011;71(4):229-35
references: 21160151
references: Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2011 Apr;16(2):108-15
references: 21281094
references: Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Mar;5(2):229-251
references: 30764048
references: J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011 May;28(5):425-32
references: 21287403
references: Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2012 Mar 19;10:19
references: 22429861
references: Hum Reprod Update. 2005 May-Jun;11(3):261-76
references: 15831503
references: Hum Reprod. 2008 Aug;23(8):1858-64
references: 18469334