P-437 Breaking the taboo on infertility and access to medically assisted reproduction through better information: a desire shared by young European adults
Authors: Vialle M , López-Toribio M , Carrasco J M , Melovska J , Dimitrievska V , Hens K , Struyf J , Guell F , Rozée V 
Published: June 2023

Study question

What are the social representations of young Europeans of infertility and medically assisted reproduction (MAR)?

Summary answer

Young people generally expressed a desire for better representation of infertility and access to MAR in their country in order to normalise this subject.

What is known already

There is a lack of research on the representations, knowledge and opinions of people not directly concerned with infertility issues on infertility and the use of assisted reproductive technologies. However, other research with those concerned already shows the strong taboo that this subject represents in various societies and the difficulties that accompany these pathways, to which the young people interviewed refer.

Study design, size, duration

The European Project B²-InF aims to analyze, from a sociocultural, gender and legal perspective, the information, representations and expectations in the field of MAR in 8 European countries (Albania, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Slovenia, Switzerland), by interviewing young adults (18-30 years old) on their knowledge and expectations regarding MAR and by analyzing the information provided by fertility centres.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The B²-InF team conducted and analysed 98 interviews with young people living in 8 European countries (10 to 15 interviews per country), using thematic analysis software (NVivo and AtlasTi). Their selection is based on an intentional sampling to obtain a diversity of profiles in terms of gender, sexual orientation, conjugal status, geographical origin in the country. The interviews were conducted in the national language by members of the research team before being translated into English.

Main results and the role of chance

Young people representations of infertility and medical assisted reproduction (MAR) are often similar regardless of the country they come from.

They identify infertility as a social taboo, especially for women and in some rural areas. For this reason, according to them, recourse to MAR techniques remains largely unmentionable, an act that remains in the intimate sphere and cannot be shared.

However, there are differences between countries, with a greater or lesser focus in the discourse on the traditional family or the reproductive rights of LGBT people.

But whatever the form of parenthood around which the denunciation of a taboo is formulated, it always generates the desire for greater national communication around infertility and access to MAR techniques. The challenge for the interviewees is thus to promote the normalisation of these subjects, which would help to facilitate use of MAR.

In their view, this objective should be achieved through greater information and transparency about existing knowledge on infertility and MAR, that is with the dissemination of less technical and commercial information than that conveyed by the clinics. They expect governmental information campaigns, including dedicated websites, social networks, dedicated courses from school to university, as well as informative leaflets in different health centres.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Few interviews were conducted per country (10-15) and the disparity of profiles is not always homogeneous between these countries. Nevertheless, this difference also provides information on the different countries concerned, particularly in terms of the representativity of specific social groups (rural, transgender or homosexual people for example).

Wider implications of the findings

The analysis of these interviews from a gender, legal and sociocultural perspective allowed the B²-InF team to propose national and international guidelines for policy makers and medical centres in order to improve information on infertility and MAR.

Trial registration number

not applicable