Abstract
Infertility is not a disease but resembles a chronic condition because it can be treated for years. The studies on infertility place emphasise on adults affected by infertility, and limited studies have explored the socially constructed beliefs on infertility that university students might hold. This qualitative study aimed to (1) explore how students define infertility, (2) the causes of infertility, (3) students' personal beliefs and attitudes towards infertility, and (4) the influence gender differences have on the understanding students have about infertility. This study sampled University of Johannesburg students between the ages of 20 to 35 years. Six participants were interviewed between November and December 2020. Using thematic analysis, six themes emerged: infertility, causes, procreation, future personal infertility, cultural norms, and gender differences. The findings suggested that (1) students were unable to elaborate on the definition of infertility regarding a time frame for diagnosis. (2) causes of infertility were related to female infertility and less on male infertility. (3) male students found contemplating future infertility a challenging task as they placed importance on continuing family lineage compared to female students. Therefore, (4) male students anticipated infertility to cause greater emotional distress in their lives in comparison to female students.
Word count: 199
Keywords: Infertility, University students, Social Constructionism, Infertility perceptions, University of Johannesburg.