O-72 Systematic review of the psychosocial impact of infertility on men in low- and middle-income countries: a mixed research synthesis.
Author(s):
S Goberdhan, O Perreira, J Balen
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To address a knowledge gap existing within
infertility research by examining the impact of infertility
on the psychosocial well-being of men in low- and middleincome countries within the era of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted with a mixed research synthesis of both quantitative and qualitative evidence. Comprehensive searches of six databases were conducted, along with citation and reference tracking, to identify all relevant papers. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed in tandem, followed by data analysis and synthesis.
Results: From 1,227 papers, 18 were included in this review, configuration of which led to the development of three main themes: men are pressured by family and society to father children; high levels of psychosocial disorders are present among those unable to achieve this; and lack of awareness and support for male infertility hinder men from seeking treatment and coping with their condition. Men have limited ways of coping with their infertility, opting to avoid discussing their diagnosis and keeping themselves occupied with work.
Conclusion: Traditional fertility beliefs and male roles in society work to pressure men to father children. Men facing fertility challenges often encounter stigma and other negative psychosocial consequences, fear of which promotes risky behaviours and perpetuates a cycle of stigma. Further research is needed within the Global South to better understand contextual male experiences of infertility so that men can be included in the reproductive rights agenda and be provided with appropriately tailored psychosocial support.