title: Talking about links between sexually transmitted infections and infertility with college and university students from SE England, UK: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are largely symptomless diseases which, left untreated, can result in serious complications including infertility. Fertility problems currently affect approximately one in seven couples in the UK and there is increasing demand for couples seeking reproductive technologies. Young people are at greatest risk of contracting STIs, therefore this study aimed to identify young people's knowledge and beliefs about the link between untreated STIs and infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were conducted with participants aged 16-24 years old inclusive in college or university settings in the SE of England. Groups were quota sampled on the basis of age and gender. A topic guide was used. The data were analysed using a framework analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten single-sex focus groups were conducted with sixty participants: six groups of college students and four groups of university students. Participants were generally aware of the link between STIs and potential infertility and considered the discussion of this subject very relevant at their age. Knowledge about how and why STIs potentially lead to fertility complications was poor. The issues of blame relating to infertility following an STI emerged, although most participants did not think that access to free reproductive technologies after an untreated STI should be limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young people would benefit from more education in order to improve their understanding of the long-term consequences of untreated STIs, such as infertility. Participants in our sample felt these were extremely relevant and important issues for them to understand alongside current education about STIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer Brighton, Room 317 Mayfield House, East Sussex BN1 9PH, UK. c.d.llewellyn@bsms.ac.uk.
authors.forename: A Lauren R
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Goundry
authors.forename: Emma R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: Carrie D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Llewellyn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Infect Immun. 2003 Jan;71(1):527-32
references.pmid: 12496205
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 1999 Apr;14(4):1131-5
references.pmid: 10221254
references.citation: Fertil Steril. 2008 Dec;90(6):2099-106
references.pmid: 18321500
references.citation: Contraception. 2003 Nov;68(5):385-91
references.pmid: 14636944
references.citation: Clin Microbiol Infect. 2007 Apr;13(4):436-9
references.pmid: 17359330
references.citation: Sex Transm Infect. 2011 Dec;87(7):601-8
references.pmid: 22028428
references.citation: Br J Health Psychol. 2012 Feb;17(1):144-54
references.pmid: 22233107
references.citation: Sex Transm Infect. 2010 Nov;86(6):411-2
references.pmid: 20940152
references.citation: Reprod Health. 2012 Mar 21;9:6
references.pmid: 22436468
references.citation: Fertil Steril. 2008 Sep;90(3):513-20
references.pmid: 17548070
references.citation: Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2009 Feb;14(1):61-8
references.pmid: 19241303
references.citation: Fertil Steril. 2009 Jan;91(1):91-5
references.pmid: 18635168
references.citation: Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2008 Sep;140(1):3-11
references.pmid: 18456385
references.citation: Sex Transm Infect. 2008 Jun;84(3):171-5
references.pmid: 18055580
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2010 Dec 30;10:794
references.pmid: 21192793
references.citation: Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2011 Feb;51(1):84-90
references.pmid: 21299515
references.citation: J Health Psychol. 1998 Jul;3(3):329-48
references.pmid: 22021395
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 1986 May;23(5):924-8
references.pmid: 3711278