Male-factor infertility is a common but stigmatised issue, and men often do not receive the emotional support and the information they need. This study sought to understand awareness of male fertility issues compared to female fertility among the UK general male public, and also what were perceived as being the optimum methods for providing support for affected men, emotionally and through information. Men feel that male infertility is not discussed by the public as much as female infertility. Lifestyle issues that affect male fertility are not well understood, and men affected by infertility desire more support, including online, from health professionals and through peer support. Health professionals, including those in public health, could offer evidence-based programmes to reduce stigma and increase public knowledge about infertility, as well as offer emotional support to men with infertility problems.
British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing). 2021 May 13 [Epub]
Eleanor L Stevenson, Cheng Ching-Yu, Chang Chia-Hao, Kevin R McEleny
Professor, Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina, USA., Professor and Research Fellow, Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chiayi, Putz, Chiayi County, Taiwan., Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Putz, Chiayi County, Taiwan., Consultant Urologist, Newcastle Fertility Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.