For Men
Enrollment of male partners is optional and will not affect a woman’s eligibility for the study.
Why should male partners enroll?
When you provide more detailed information about your lifestyle and medical history, we can gain a better understanding of which factors affect a couple’s chances of successful pregnancy.
PRESTO also gives you a chance to participate in one of the first web-based fertility studies in North America. This means that your participation has a significant influence on the future use of web-based research strategies. Regarding research questions of interest, we are examining whether body weight, exercise, and sleep duration affect fertilty. We are also interested in learning whether certain types of foods, nutrients, or nutritional supplements (e.g., multivitamins) improve sperm health and increase fertility. There is very little information about factors that promote optimal fertility in men.
Men who complete their brief (10-15 minute) PRESTO questionnaire will be entered into a lottery to win a free iPad mini.
Men who complete their dietary survey (30-40 minutes) will receive a personalized nutrient summary report of their dietary intake along with the USDA guidelines for optimal nutrition. They will also be entered into a lottery to win a $100 gift card to the grocery store of their choosing.
Can male partners participate without their female partners?
Male partners cannot enroll in PRESTO unless they are invited by their female partners.
If you are interested in PRESTO, please pass the study information along to your female partner, so that both of you can get involved.
How long does it take to complete the male questionnaires?
The male baseline questionnaire takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The dietary questionnaire takes about 30-40 minutes to complete.
Semen Testing Pilot Study
What is PRESTO's semen testing study?
In this study, 300 male partners will be invited to complete the PRESTO baseline survey and two in-home semen tests using semen analysis device (TrakTM). Manufactured by Sandstone Diagnostics in California, TrakTM has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to measure semen volume and sperm concentration. This research is approved by the Boston University IRB and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What are the objectives of the semen testing study?
This study seeks to evaluate the usability of the TrakTM device, to assess whether lifestyle and behavioral factors are associated with semen quality, and to determine whether semen quality predicts future fertility.
What is the study protocol?
Participants will be mailed a TrakTM kit within 2 weeks of completing their male survey. TrakTM will be shipped in discreet packaging so that it is not identifiable as a semen testing kit. Men will be asked to collect a semen sample, perform their own semen analysis, and upload their results to the secure study website. Men will be instructed to do the TrakTM tests during the luteal phase (post-ovulation) of their partner’s menstrual cycle, so as to not interfere with their pregnancy attempts. Reminder e-mails will notify men of the ideal period during which to perform each test, estimated using data on their partner’s date of last menstrual period and cycle length. Because of changes in semen quality over time, men will be asked to take a second test 7-10 days later.
Will I be paid for participating?
Yes, men will be reimbursed for their time with a $20 electronic gift card after they upload the data from both semen tests.
Qualitative Study of Male Participation
What is the purpose of this study?
In this study, a sample of respondents and non-respondents to the male baseline questionnaire will be invited to complete in-person interviews and focus groups. They will be asked questions about their decision to participate in PRESTO. Selected female partners will also be interviewed.
Will I be paid for participating?
Yes, participants will be reimbursed for their time with a $100 electronic gift card.
