Talking about links between sexually transmitted infections and infertility with college and university students from SE England, UK: a qualitative study

Reproductive Health

Carrie D Llewellyn¹  Emma R Finlay¹  A Lauren R Goundry¹ 

[1] Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer Brighton, Room 317 Mayfield House, East Sussex BN1 9PH, UK

关键词: Qualitative;    Focus group;    Adolescents;    Infertility;    Sexually transmitted infection;   

Others  :  811251
DOI  :  10.1186/1742-4755-10-47

 received in 2013-03-01, accepted in 2013-09-09,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are largely symptomless diseases which, left untreated, can result in serious complications including infertility. Fertility problems currently affect approximately one in seven couples in the UK and there is increasing demand for couples seeking reproductive technologies. Young people are at greatest risk of contracting STIs, therefore this study aimed to identify young people’s knowledge and beliefs about the link between untreated STIs and infertility.

Methods

Focus groups were conducted with participants aged 16–24 years old inclusive in college or university settings in the SE of England. Groups were quota sampled on the basis of age and gender. A topic guide was used. The data were analysed using a framework analysis approach.

Results

Ten single-sex focus groups were conducted with sixty participants: six groups of college students and four groups of university students. Participants were generally aware of the link between STIs and potential infertility and considered the discussion of this subject very relevant at their age. Knowledge about how and why STIs potentially lead to fertility complications was poor. The issues of blame relating to infertility following an STI emerged, although most participants did not think that access to free reproductive technologies after an untreated STI should be limited.

Conclusions

Young people would benefit from more education in order to improve their understanding of the long-term consequences of untreated STIs, such as infertility. Participants in our sample felt these were extremely relevant and important issues for them to understand alongside current education about STIs.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Goundry et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health: Fertility: assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems. London: Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Press; 2004.
• [2]BMJ Evidence Centre: Infertility in women. Best practice. BMJ Publishing Group Limited; 2011. Available from: http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/498.html webcite
• [3]BMJ Evidence Centre: Male factor infertility. Best practice. BMJ Publishing Group Limited; 2011. Available from: http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/497.html webcite
• [4]Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Fertility treatment in 2010 - trends and figures. London: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; 2011.
• [5]Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Fertility Treatment in 2011 trends and figures. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. 2013. Available from: http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/HFEA_Fertility_Trends_and_Figures_2011_-_Annual_Register_Report.pdf webcite
• [6]McDowell S, Murray A: Barriers to continuing in vitro fertilisation - why do patients exit fertility treatment? Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2011, 51:84-90.
• [7]Health Protection Agency: Number and rates of chlamydia diagnoses in England 2003–2012. 2012. Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1281953080823 webcite
• [8]Sankar K, Elawad B: Oxford Handbook of Genitourinary Medicine, HIV and AIDS. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2005.
• [9]Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: About infertility. 2013. Available from: http://www.hfea.gov.uk/infertility.html webcite
• [10]Bender N, et al.: Chlamydia infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility: cross-national study. Sex Transm Infect 2011, 87:601-608.
• [11]Maisey K, et al.: Expression of proinflammatory cytokines and receptors by human fallopian tubes in organ culture following challenge with Neisseria gonorrhoea. Infect Immunol 2003, 71:527-532.
• [12]Malik A, et al.: Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women with secondary infertility. Fertil Steril 2009, 91:91-95.
• [13]Puolakkainen M, et al.: Persisistence of chlamydial antibodies after pelvic inflammatory disease. J Clin Microbiol 1986, 23:924-928.
• [14]Svenstrup H, et al.: Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, and tubal factor infertility - a prospective study. Fertil Steril 2008, 90:513-520.
• [15]Wallace L, et al.: What is the excess risk of infertility in women after genital chlamydia infection? A systematic review of the evidence. Sex Transm Infect 2008, 84:171-175.
• [16]Pellati D, et al.: Genital tract infections and infertility. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2008, 140:3-11.
• [17]BMJ Evidence Centre: Gonorrhoea infection. Best practice. BMJ Publishing Group Limited; 2011. Available from: http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/51.html webcite
• [18]BMJ Evidence Centre: Genital tract chlamydia infection. Best practice. BMJ Publishing Group Limited; 2011. Available from: http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/52.html webcite
• [19]Quach S, Librach C: Infertility knowledge and attitudes in urban high school students. Fertil Steril 2008, 90:2099-2106.
• [20]Wilkinson S: Focus groups in health research: exploring the meanings of health and illness. J Health Psychol 1998, 3:329-348.
• [21]Health Protection Agency: Health Protection Report: Weekly Report June 17 2011. Health Protection Agency; 2011. Report nr 5 (24). Available from: http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2011/hpr2411.pdf webcite
• [22]Ritchie J, Spencer L: Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research. In Analysing qualitative data. Edited by Bryman A, Burgess R. London: Routledge; 1994:173-194.
• [23]Griesinger G, et al.: Sexual behaviour and Chlamydia trachomatis infections in German female urban adolescents, 2004. Clin Microbiol Infect 2007, 13:436-439.
• [24]Macmillan S, et al.: Ignorance about Chlamydia among sexually active women - a two centre study. Hum Reprod 1999, 14:1131-1135.
• [25]Greaves A, et al.: University undergraduates’ knowledge of chlamydia screening services and chlamydia infection following the introduction of a National Chlamydia Screening Programme. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2009, 14:61-68.
• [26]Lorimer K, Hart G: Knowledge of Chlamydia trachomatis among men and women approached to participate in community-based screening, Scotland, UK. BMC Public Health 2010, 10:794. BioMed Central Full Text
• [27]Newby K, Wallace L, French D: How do young adults perceive the risk of chlamydia infection? A qualitative study. Br J Health Psychol 2012, 17:144-154.
• [28]Ekelin M, et al.: Swedish high school students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding fertility and family building. Reproductive Health 2012, 9:6. BioMed Central Full Text
• [29]Ross J: Gonorrhoea: to screen or not to screen? Sex Transm Infect 2010, 86:411-412.
• [30]Wimberly Y, et al.: Adolescent beliefs about infertility. Contraception 2003, 68:385-391.
• [31]Smithson J: Using and analysing focus groups: limitations and possibilities. Int J Soc Res Methodol 2003, 3:103-119.