Overview
Involuntary infertility affects one in six people globally, imposing significant social, economic, and psychological burdens. Despite its prevalence, studies reveal that reproductive-age individuals often have limited and inaccurate knowledge regarding reproductive health, factors affecting fertility, and the possibilities of assisted reproductive technologies. Fertility literacy – a critical element of overall health literacy – receives minimal attention in school curricula while media frequently misrepresent fertility by portraying late celebrity pregnancies as easily achievable and obscuring biological realities.
Most fertility awareness research comes from the UK, USA, and select European countries, with limited data from Switzerland. This project addresses this gap by a) assessing fertility literacy in young adults in Switzerland and their sources of knowledge through a representative survey, b) analyzing Swiss media coverage and framing of fertility through content analysis, and c) examining media impact on fertility awareness and family planning decisions through experiments. Findings will inform strategies to improve fertility literacy, empowering people to make informed life choices.
Our interdisciplinary team combines expertise in health sciences, media analysis, communication with young adults, sexual education, and human-centered health design.
