Abstract
An estimated one in ten couples in the United States are affected by infertility (Panth et al., 2018). Bio-behavioral, psychological and social factors contribute to the complex balance needed for fertility. This study examined infertility knowledge and infertility risk factors in a sample of 297 young adults (18-26 years; 65.3% female) in the United States using a cross-sectional, correlational design. Results of the analyses revealed that infertility knowledge was correlated with overall distress (r = -.12, p = .044) as hypothesized and overall maladaptive behaviors (r = .26, p = .001), but in the opposite direction hypothesized. Infertility knowledge was also found to be a statistically significant predictor of maladaptive health behaviors (β = .37, p = .002) and distress (β = -.59, p = .013). It was demonstrated that young adults’ knowledge about preventable factors causing infertility was limited, while risk factors were endorsed. Increased efforts are needed to educate young adults on modifiable factors that may affect their fertility as this will allow young adults to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and therefore decrease national incidence rates of infertility.