Fertility protection in the reproductive-age population: A evolutionary concept analysis.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to report a concept analysis of fertility protection and elucidate a current definition.

METHODS

This study adopted Rodgers's evolutionary and inductive method of concept analysis. Literature from January 1990 to March 2025 was searched using PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). Data extraction involved identifying surrogate and related terms, attributes, antecedents, and consequences of fertility protection. The extracted data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

Based on a review of 40 studies on fertility protection, the attributes include preventive interventions, promoting the release of fertility potential, and an orientation towards building a birth-friendly society. The antecedents were classified into six categories: physiological factors, pathological factors, iatrogenic factors, psychological factors, environmental and lifestyle factors, and social factors. The consequences were systematically categorized into three domains: individual, familial, and societal. Fertility protection was defined as the maintenance or preservation of an individual's fertility based on preventive interventions, while at the same time promoting the full exertion of their fertility potential through a combination of medical technology, policy, economic, and socio-cultural means, thereby achieving the ultimate goal of a birth-friendly society.

CONCLUSIONS

Fertility protection is a complex field involving multiple disciplines. This study clarifies the conceptual attributes of fertility protection through concept analysis. It provides a common reference point to promote effective collaboration and communication among nursing, reproductive medicine, public health, and policy research.