Abstract

AWARENESS ON INFERTILITY ISSUES AND ITS FACTORS AMONG UNIVERSITY YOUNG ADULTS IN A CITY IN MALAYSIA

Gunavathy Armugam, Nina Varghese*, Yuawa Rani a/p Balakrishnan and Rajan Balakrishnan

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the awareness of young adults regarding infertility issues. Besides, it also evaluated the level of knowledge regarding the factors affecting and leading to infertility. A cross sectional survey among the young adults has been conducted with distribution of questionnaire containing 43 questions, divided into 5 sections which include demographic data, age related fertility issues, plans on having children, lifestyle factors on fertility was distributed to the participants for data collection. The knowledge of students on the first decline of the male fertility was seem to be significant that it depends on the either male or female participant’s preference, because 59% of female participants chose 50 to 54 years as their option and 60% of male participants preferred to opt for 45 to 49 years old. Besides, weight factor towards female fertility have also shown significant value (p< 0.05), thus depending on the gender, the answer varies. The majority of both male (60/60%) and female (84/77%) students have claimed that either excess weigh or being underweight both would lead to infertility issues in female. As a conclusion, it was found that young adults are aware of the infertility issues and the factors causing it. In addition to this, participants’s knowledge on ways of overcoming infertility situation if it occurs.

Keywords: Infertility, age factor, lifestyle factors, diet, Leptin.