Evidence mapPaperPMID 39974796Full record

ArticleTranslational andrology and urology2025

Understanding general public and healthcare provider knowledge gaps in male factor infertility.

Bradley J Roth, Shelby Harper, Andrew Shumaker, Evonne Pei, Ava Adler, Neel Parekh, Raevti Bole, Sarah C Vij, Scott D Lundy

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational andrology and urology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Bradley J RothGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Shelby HarperGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Andrew ShumakerGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Evonne PeiGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Ava AdlerGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Neel ParekhGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Raevti BoleGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Sarah C VijGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Scott D LundyGlickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: While ongoing research continues to identify new causes for decreased sperm counts and idiopathic infertility, little objective data are known regarding public knowledge and perception of male infertility. In this study, we aim to better characterize male infertility knowledge across educational status, personal experience with infertility, socioeconomic characteristics, and income level. Methods: Participants were asked to identify, among other factors, out-of-pocket treatment cost, insurance coverage, and potential risk factors for infertility. Then, a scoring system was developed to objectively quantify overall understanding of male infertility and named Knowledge of Male Fertility (KM-Fert). Results were compared by socioeconomic status and education level, with a sub-analysis of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Results: A total of 242 respondents completed the survey. Only 67.4% of respondents (n=163) identified testosterone therapy as a risk factor for male infertility, while other commonly understood risk factors (e.g., smoking or obesity) were correctly identified by a large majority. Median KM-Fert score of reproductive urology subspecialists was a perfect score of 10. This was significantly higher than other respondents {10 [interquartile range (IQR): 9.25, 10] Conclusions: The general population has variable knowledge surrounding male fertility, and there is an opportunity for non-urology providers to improve their knowledge, screening, and referrals for reproductive-aged males. Reproductive urologists may be the ideal group to educate fellow HCPs.

Indexed as

Male infertilitypublic perceptionrisk factorsstigma

Identifiers

PMID39974796
PMCPMC11833537

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.