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

Abstract

Purpose 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. Methods The study was designed as an online-based crosssectional 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. Results 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. Conclusions 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.

College Students Responding to the Chinese version of Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale Show Deficiencies in Their Awareness: A cross-sectional survey in Hunan, China

“….3) [11] and the US (male: mean=8.3, SD=2.5; female: mean=8.5, SD=2.9) [23] but higher than in Hong Kong (mean=6.2, SD=3.0) [37]. These findings are in line with the fertility rate in China.…”

“…An international survey of 79 countries from the International Fertility Decision-making Study (IFDMS) showed that the average score on a test of fertility knowledge was 56.9% [8]. Other studies confirmed the poor fertility knowledge and fertility awareness among people of reproductive age in the United States, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Japan and other countries [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In addition, some studies have demonstrated that some professionals, including obstetrics and gynaecology resident physicians and nurses, tend to underestimate age-related fertility decline and overestimate the success rate of fertility treatments [16][17][18][19].…”

Investigating university students’ attitudes towards infertility in terms of socio-demographic variables

“…Postponing child plans is generally related to academic and career goals. University students consider postponing child plans in order to achieve these goals (Meissner, Schippert, & Von Versen-Höynck, 2016). There are not enough studies about university students' attitudes towards infertility and related factors.…”

The association between reproductive health smartphone applications and fertility knowledge of Australian women

“…Regarding the reliability of reproductive health apps, studies report that only 20% are of good quality [30,32]. It remains unclear as to whether currently available apps confer understanding, with previous studies of fertility knowledge in women lacking any reference to apps [17,18,23,[33][34][35][36]. The aim of this study was to determine the differences between fertility knowledge, based on the use of female reproductive health apps, via an anonymous online survey of Australian women.…”