(079) RELIGION’S IMPACT ON DECISION MAKING AND COPING FOR MALE-FACTOR INFERTILITY COUPLES

Abstract Introduction With ideas such as God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” in both Jewish and Christian texts and the Vatican’s disapproval of the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF), religious identities of male-factor infertility patients may affect how patients engage in reproductive health care. Objective The goal of this study is to assess the saliency of religious beliefs on the male-factor infertility patient. Methods A REDcap survey was sent to patients who presented for an infertility visit between 10/2/2022-10/2/2023. Using a 4-point Likert Scale and written responses, participants reflected on their religion’s role in their selection of treatment. Written responses were analyzed for common themes and results were reported using descriptive statistics. Results 73% of respondents (n = 285/392) identified with a religion (90% a form of Christian, 3.2% Non-Orthodox Jewish, 3.2% Muslim, and 3.6% Other Religions). Non-Denominational (ND) or Protestant (P) Christians, Catholics, and Muslims reported that their religion encouraged the use of expanded infertility treatment rather than caused hesitancy (Table 1). Among written responses, IVF or Intrauterine Insemination was the most suggested infertility treatment (47.5% (n = 19/40)), and donor sperm or egg was the most discouraged (52% (n = 12/23)). Muslims were most likely to report discouragement of donor sperm or egg (n = 6/9 (66.7% of Muslims)). 243 participants provided written insight into their religious views of infertility treatment. Aside from no religious impact (45.7%), the most common themes were: no personal conflict with religious views (20.7%), reproduction as a core religious tenet (10.7%), and the unity of religion and science (9.9%). A small number of participants (7.9%) discussed having disagreed with or gone against their religion’s views, the majority of which were Catholic (n = 13/17 (76.5%)). Conclusions Religion was an encouraging factor for most male patients seeking infertility treatment. However, physicians should still take care to acknowledge differences among religions, recognizing that certain treatment options may cause discomfort in religious patients. Disclosure No.