women as more knowledgeable than their male counterparts
A large percentage of college kids plan to have kids in the future. But, studies carried out in many parts have shown that most of them have incomplete or no knowledge about fertility. In most of these studies, however, women seemed to be more knowledgeable than their male counterparts.
A Survey in Melbourne by the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment following 1200 students showed this gap in knowledge. Most of those interviewed wanted children, but most couldn’t tell when fertility starts to wane both in men and women. So, most students wanted to first concentrate on education, work, travel, stable relationships, and other issues before starting a family.
Typically, women’s fertility begins waning at 30-34 and speeds up after 35 years. Men, on the other hand, slow down between 40-45 years. The oldest man to sire was 96 years old, but infinite sperm production is not the rule of thumb.
Most college-aged people also have an incomplete understanding of the causes of fertility and its treatment. They especially undermine the risks posed by alcohol and marijuana. A study in Grenada focusing on college students and published in the Science Journal of Public Health indicated that there was average awareness when it comes to fertility.
However, about 73% of those interviewed believed that God had something to do with fertility (infertility). A study of Pakistani students showed that the students believed evil forces caused infertility. 58% of those interviewed thought that divine intervention could help those with infertility. They also think women are more susceptible to infertility factors than men- a belief that isn’t factual.
Among college-aged people, male infertility seemed to be more stigmatized. It seems that while sex education has increased in recent years in most institutions, factors that cause male infertility have not yet been added to the education curriculum.
More relevant information should be disseminated to college-aged people to reduce the stigma and help in decision making.