A systematic review of interventions to improve male knowledge of fertility and fertility-related risk factors

Abstract

Male infertility is a global health concern. The effectiveness of interventions developed to improve males’ knowledge of fertility regulation and fertility-related risk factors remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and evaluate the evidence for these interventions. Four databases were searched from inception to June 2023. Eligible studies examined interventions to increase fertility knowledge among presumed fertile males aged ≥16 years of age. Conference abstracts, protocols and studies without sex-disaggregated results for males were excluded. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis was performed. A total of 4884 records were identified. Five studies (reported in six publications), all conducted in high-income countries, were included. Two were randomized control trials, and three were experimental studies. Interventions were delivered in person by a health professional (n = 3), online and via a mobile app. All studies showed a significant improvement in knowledge of fertility or fertility-related risk factors from baseline to follow-up. The largest improvement was observed for secondary and vocational students. A moderate, long-term retainment of knowledge was observed at two-year follow-up in one study. Available evidence suggests interventions to improve males’ fertility knowledge are effective, particularly for younger, less educated males.

Keywords:

• Fertility knowledge
• risk factors
• infertility
• men
• male
• intervention

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are underlying this review will be shared on reasonable request made to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, UKHSA or the Department of Health and Social Care.