Fertility Education Initiative

The Fertility Education Initiative is to develop resources to support increased awareness of fertility and reproductive issues in young people, including resources for educators.

There is voluminous research concerned with what young people know about fertility. Fertility awareness refers to knowledge about reproduction, fecundity, fecundability, risk factors for reduced fertility and societal and cultural factors affecting options to meet parenthood goals.

Applying academic standards to knowledge levels suggests that adolescents (16–18 years) and emerging adults (21–24 years) know less than they should about important fertility topics.  The aim of the Fertility Education Initiative is to develop resources to support increased awareness of fertility and reproductive issues in young people, including resources for educators.

Resources produced by the Fertility Education Initiative project

  • PDF

    A Guide to Fertility

    An interactive pdf that answers common questions about fertility (e.g., when should I start trying for a family, how long does it take to achieve a pregnancy/father a child, what are sign, symptoms and preventable causes of fertility problems and more)

    Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

  • Video

    The incredibly obvious thing you should do about painful testicles

    This is the fourth in a series of four animations about testicular health and fertility. This episode focuses on seeking help when experiencing severe pain or when finding something unusual during a regular testicular exam.

    Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

  • Video

    Healthy balls healthy body: Tips for testicular health

    The third of four produced for young people to educate about testicular health and male fertility. This animation describes the link between general health and fertility as lifestyle and environmental factors that may affect sperm production.

    Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

  • Video

    How can you tell if your testicles are healthy?

    The second animation in a series of four produced for young people to educate about testicular health and male fertility. In this animation we promote the idea of regular testicular self-examinations and what to look for during your monthly check.

    Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

  • Video

    The two essential jobs your testicles do for you

    The first of four animations produced for young people to educate about testicular health and male fertility. In this animation we explain the function of testicles during puberty and into adulthood, the role of testosterone in development and of sperm in reproduction.

    Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

  • Video

    Fertility Technologies Shaping Modern Families

    This animation aimed at young people explains the various pathways to parenthood for people who are unable to achieve pregnancy or father a child through sexual intercourse.

    Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

    The intellectual property for Fertility Matters belongs to Cardiff University and the British Fertility Society
  • Video

    Your Fertility Matters

    Your Fertility Matters is an animation produced for young people to educate about fertility and risk factors for reduced fertility

    Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Project Team

Publications