Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION: What level of awareness do young adults have regarding the potential impacts of gym lifestyle factors and supplementation on male infertility?
DESIGN: Between February and March 2023 a questionnaire (n=152) was employed to gauge attitudes and awareness of male reproductive health and gym lifestyles on male fertility. Two semi-structured focus groups (n = 10 total), stratified by sex assigned at birth, were conducted using a set of discussion topics.
RESULTS: The survey revealed a statistically significant difference between male and female awareness of the potential impacts of some forms of high-intensity exercise and protein supplementation on male reproductive health (p < 0.05). Many men do not think about fertility unprompted; the survey revealed differences between men who have thought about their fertility and both those who are curious about their fertility (p < 0.0001) and those who believe their personal fertility is important to them (p < 10−5). Men were more likely to make a change in their behaviour if it had a long-term effect on their fertility compared to a short-term effect (p < 10−5). We extracted 5 focus group themes surrounding awareness of male reproductive health.
CONCLUSIONS: This work has shown that there is a significant lack of awareness and information surrounding the effects of gym lifestyles on male infertility in a UK young adult population. Crucially, levels of awareness are significant different between men and women. Men have a potentially alarming lack of concern over their own fertility, and how factors such as gym supplements can have negative long-term impacts.
DESIGN: Between February and March 2023 a questionnaire (n=152) was employed to gauge attitudes and awareness of male reproductive health and gym lifestyles on male fertility. Two semi-structured focus groups (n = 10 total), stratified by sex assigned at birth, were conducted using a set of discussion topics.
RESULTS: The survey revealed a statistically significant difference between male and female awareness of the potential impacts of some forms of high-intensity exercise and protein supplementation on male reproductive health (p < 0.05). Many men do not think about fertility unprompted; the survey revealed differences between men who have thought about their fertility and both those who are curious about their fertility (p < 0.0001) and those who believe their personal fertility is important to them (p < 10−5). Men were more likely to make a change in their behaviour if it had a long-term effect on their fertility compared to a short-term effect (p < 10−5). We extracted 5 focus group themes surrounding awareness of male reproductive health.
CONCLUSIONS: This work has shown that there is a significant lack of awareness and information surrounding the effects of gym lifestyles on male infertility in a UK young adult population. Crucially, levels of awareness are significant different between men and women. Men have a potentially alarming lack of concern over their own fertility, and how factors such as gym supplements can have negative long-term impacts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 103623 |
| Journal | Reproductive BioMedicine Online |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 18 Oct 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Funding:Research funding was provided by the University of Birmingham for this study.
Keywords
- gym supplements
- male fertility
- male reproductive health
- qualitative study