Voluntary childlessness and family planning in men with inflammatory bowel disease: a scoping review

Chronic disease can influence family planning decisions, yet this remains under-researched in men. Understanding voluntary childlessness and family planning in men with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is essential to inform person-centered, disease-specific, and holistic support. A systematic synthesis of the published literature on childlessness and family planning in men with IBD was required to identify gaps in knowledge and inform future research, policy, and clinical care.

Scoping review in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and reported in line with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsychInfo were searched. Two reviewers independently screened and selected relevant studies. Data were extracted, charted and then synthesized using the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice, and Research recommendations (PAGER) Framework.

A total of 15 papers, reporting data from 1336 men with IBD were included in the review. The findings indicate that IBD may influence men's reproductive decision-making, with medication safety emerging as a key concern. Men also appear to have poorer reproductive knowledge compared with women with IBD. Few studies have involved partners, and the impact of IBD on partners remains largely undocumented.

This review highlights the significant lack of research, clinical guidance, and patient education regarding men's family planning decisions in the context of IBD. Men and their partners require tailored, disease-specific information to support informed reproductive choices. Clinicians should recognize the potential impact of IBD on family planning and provide clear guidance on fertility and treatment-related risks, ensuring that management decisions are aligned with patients' reproductive intentions.