# Infertility screening in unmarried men: A scoping review protocol

## TL;DR

This paper outlines a scoping review protocol to explore infertility screening in unmarried men, aiming to identify current evidence and knowledge gaps.

## Contribution

The study introduces a systematic protocol to examine infertility screening specifically for unmarried men, a topic with limited existing research.

## Key findings

- The review will use a 14-step framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to gather and synthesize evidence.
- It will include studies from diverse geographical locations and methodologies, such as quantitative and qualitative research.
- The findings will highlight screening types, benefits, harms, and gaps in understanding male infertility among unmarried men.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.