Are urologists underrepresented on fertility clinic websites? A web-based analysis

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Infertile couples increasingly use the internet to find reproductive clinics and research healthcare providers.
• Online presence and provider portrayal significantly influence patient self-referral decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the online image and representation of infertility specialists, particularly male infertility experts, on reproductive clinic websites.
• To assess the discrepancy in online visibility between male infertility specialists and other clinic staff.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 447 reproductive clinic websites from the UK (Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority) and US (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) registries.
• Systematic review of clinic websites to evaluate the portrayal and inclusion of different team members' profiles.

Main Results:

• Only 8% of male infertility doctor profiles were found, compared to 96% for female infertility experts.
• Male infertility specialists were significantly underrepresented compared to nurses (55.7%), embryology lab directors (46.5%), office staff (39.6%), and embryology specialists (29.7%).

Conclusions:

• Male infertility specialists, crucial for over 50% of infertility cases, are significantly understated on fertility clinic websites.
• Enhancing the online visibility of all care team members, including male infertility specialists, can improve patient attraction and engagement.