Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41760834›Full record

ArticleJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2026

Men's perceptions of long-term health outcomes following fertility problems: a UK-based mixed-methods survey.

Faiza Afzal, Ling Yin Fritz Wong, Mitana Purkayastha, Yan Lu, Philippa Rees, Melissa A Richard, Carrie L Williams, Philip J Lupo, Barbara Luke, Michael L Eisenberg and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

12 authors.

Faiza Afzal *Population, Policy and Practice Department, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK. faiza.afzal@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9628-8832
Ling Yin Fritz Wong *Population, Policy and Practice Department, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK. fritz.wong.21@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-8369-3209
Mitana PurkayasthaPopulation, Policy and Practice Department, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1870-8838
Yan LuPopulation, Policy and Practice Department, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-5665-6306
Philippa ReesPopulation, Policy and Practice Department, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1074-5837
Melissa A RichardSection of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0129-9860
Carrie L WilliamsPopulation, Policy and Practice Department, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2705-7712
Philip J LupoSection of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0978-5863
Barbara LukeDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0405-8133
Michael L EisenbergDepartment of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5482-0141
Allan PaceySchool of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4387-8871
Alastair G SutcliffePopulation, Policy and Practice Department, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8542-6155

Funding

Wellcome Trust 2266971
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo explore men's assisted reproductive technology (ART) experiences, awareness and concerns about fertility-associated health outcomes, and perceptions of using administrative health records in the United Kingdom (UK) without consent to investigate these outcomes.

methodsOver a 2-year period, all adult men were eligible to complete an anonymous online survey distributed via a UK-based fertility charity's social media. Free-text responses underwent thematic analysis, and categorical responses were analysed with descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test.

resultsAmong 80 participants, most were aged ≥ 40 (66.7%), completed university (70.2%), White (77.2%), and UK residents (83.0%). Older (p = 0.004) and White (p = 0.001) men more likely underwent ART. Most ART users received treatment privately (60%) within the past three years (71.4%). Only one-fifth of the 15 men with identified fertility problems received discussion on fertility-associated health outcomes in clinic. Regarding perceptions, most were unaware of but concerned about these outcomes across biopsychosocial aspects, with participant quotes reflecting uncertainty and vulnerability. Recency of ART was associated with awareness (p = 0.015) and concerns (p = 0.001). Overall, 90.3% supported using administrative health records to investigate long-term health of fertility-challenged men, and 84.2% had no concerns about doing so without individual consent under established legal frameworks. Others raised concerns about the reliability of data anonymisation. Quotes suggested participants' desire to understand the wider health implications of male fertility amidst a perceived gender imbalance in fertility research.

conclusionsGaps in participant knowledge, clinician communication, and research in male fertility-associated outcomes support the need for universal education and further investigations in these outcomes.

Indexed as

FertilityInfertility, MaleReproductive Techniques, AssistedAdultFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited KingdomAssisted reproductive technologyFertility treatmentHealth outcomesMale fertilitySurvey

Identifiers

PMID41760834
PMCPMC13221544

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.