A Literature Review of Fertility Education for High School Students

Abstract

Purpose: Fertility education for high school students leads them to be able to decide when to get pregnant and give birth, and to think about their desired life plan. However, knowledge of fertility in Japan is low compared to other countries. This study aims to understand the state of fertility knowledge among high school students in Japan and to clarify issues in fertility education. Method: Ten articles published from 2013 to July 2023 were selected for review from ICHUSHI Web Ver. 5 and CiNii with the keywords “high school students,” “fertility,” and “education.” The review was limited to Japanese-language literature due to differences in fertility education and knowledge between Japan and other countries. Results/Conclusion: 60% - 90% of the high school students indicated that their source of information on fertility was school lessons. Half of the students understood egg aging and the effects of smoking and drinking on fertility, but their knowledge of menstruation, male reproductive physiology/function, and infertility was insufficient. 50% - 80% of students wanted to marry by the age of 30, and 70% - 80% wanted to have children. 80% of students who attended a lecture on preconception care considered the lesson an opportunity to think about their future life plans. 90% of school nurse teachers reported that fertility should be taught in schools, and half said that egg aging, causes of infertility, and other topics should be covered in high school. Educational caution points included the consideration of developmental stages and the relatedness of the content to what had already been taught, among other things. High school is the best time for fertility education because it gives students the opportunity to accept their own sexuality and think about their future. In addition, since many students plan to marry and have children by the age of 30, the acquisition of fertility knowledge can be an effective means of future life design.