Women's intentions to use fertility preservation to prevent age-related fertility decline

Abstract

The optimal age to cryopreserve oocytes for later use is before 36 years. Current users are on average 38 years old. In this cross-sectional study an online survey was constructed about the factors associated with the intentions of childless women aged 28-35 years to use fertility preservation (FP). Questions were derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (attitudes and subjective norms regarding FP and perceived behaviour control to do FP) and the Health Belief Model (perceived susceptibility of infertility, perceived severity of childlessness, barriers and benefits of FP and cue to use FP). Also addressed were parenthood goals, fertility knowledge and intentions to use FP within 2 years. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling. The Health Belief Model showed a good fit to the data (χ(2) [14, n = 257] = 13.63, P = 0.477; CFI = 1.000: RMSEA = 00, 90% CI [0.00-0.06]). Higher intentions to use FP were associated with feeling susceptible to infertility, considering FP useful to achieve parenthood, perceiving the implications of infertility as severe, expecting to have children at a later age and having fewer ethical concerns. This suggests an increase of fertility awareness is necessary for the optimal use of FP.

Desire for parenthood and reproductive health knowledge in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease and their caregivers

“…Participants self‐reported their sociodemographic characteristics and completed surveys to assess their/their child's desire for parenthood and other life goals, and reproductive health knowledge. Due to a lack of standardized measures about parenthood goals and reproductive health in this patient population, survey items were adapted from measures examining these topics in other disease populations at risk of infertility . Surveys primarily included multiple choice questions and 5‐point Likert scale items.…”

“…Of the 23 patient and caregiver dyads who met eligibility criteria during the study period and were approached to participate, 19…”

Awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of infertility, fertility assessment, and assisted reproductive technologies in the era of oocyte freezing among female and male university students

“…Women start to become aware of the age-related decline in fertility, and their interest in the emerging technologies of fertility preservation has grown [8]. Since Apple and Facebook in fall 2014 announced they would cover egg freezing for their female employees in the USA, this opportunity attracted attention [9].…”

Fertility perspectives and priorities among male adolescents and young adults in cancer survivorship

“…Participants completed a single rank order question (previously used among AYAs with cancer) in which common life goals (including “having children”) were ranked in order of greatest (1) to least importance (8). Due to a lack of standardized measures about parenthood goals and reproductive health in this population, additional survey items (multiple choice and five‐point Likert scale items) were adapted from established measures used in other disease populations at risk of infertility . Data presented include: items about life goals, fertility‐related discussions in survivorship, and parenthood desires.…”