Infertility screening in unmarried men: A scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction Infertility is often viewed as a couple-centric issue; however, male infertility significantly contributes to reproductive challenges. While infertility screening is increasingly discussed in partnered contexts, limited evidence exists specifically regarding infertility screening for unmarried men. This protocol outlines a scoping review that aims to explore the scope and nature of evidence related to infertility screening in unmarried men. Methods This scoping review will adhere to a comprehensive 14-step methodological framework, incorporating the established Arksey and O’Malley methodology, enhanced by Tricco and Peters. It will follow the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A combination of thesaurus and free-text search methods will be employed, connecting keywords within each concept. Databases including Web of Science (ISI), PubMed, Scopus, and search engines like Google Scholar, will be searched. To ensure rigor, the selection process will be conducted using the established PCCT framework (population, concept, context, and study type). This review will consider quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, as well as grey literature from any geographical location and setting, focusing on infertility screening concepts for unmarried men. The extracted data will be synthesized and presented through diagrams and tables, accompanied by a narrative summary. Discussion This scoping review will summarize the evidence on infertility screening in unmarried men, highlighting diverse types of screening, potential benefits and harms, and knowledge gaps. It aims to guide future research and improve the understanding of the reproductive health needs of unmarried men worldwide.