‘If I had known the fertility health facts sooner…’ Knowledge gaps as a barrier to effective fertility management: findings from the understanding fertility management in contemporary Australia survey

Abstract

Background: Optimal fertility management enables women and men to avoid and achieve conception and parenthood when desired. A lack of knowledge about sexual, reproductive and fertility matters may impede a person’s ability to manage their fertility effectively. Little is known about current gaps in fertility knowledge among Australians.

Purpose: To identify information and knowledge gaps about fertility management among women and men of reproductive age living in Australia.

Method: A sample of 18- to 50-year-old women and men (N = 2235) randomly recruited from the Australian Electoral Roll in 2013. Respondents completed a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire that concluded with the option to provide free-text comments elaborating on their fertility management. These comments were analysed thematically to identify gaps in fertility management knowledge and information.

Results: Of the 519 participants’ comments, 472 were included in the analysis: 366 (77.5%) from women and 106 (22.5%) from men. Most comments related to contraception or fertility problems. Two themes about contraception were identified: (1) lack of information and knowledge about contraception and concerns about side-effects and (2) inadequate contraceptive education. Two themes about fertility problems were identified: (1) a lack of information and knowledge about fertility and (2) difficulties conceiving, including access to assisted reproductive treatments and other therapies. No major gender or age differences were identified across the themes.

Conclusions: Many Australian women and men would welcome education and public health campaigns about contraceptive options and age-related fertility decline. Such interventions may enable women and men to manage their fertility and achieve their reproductive goals.

摘要

背景：最佳的生育管理使女性和男性能够按照需要来避孕和实现受孕、生育。缺乏关于性、生殖和生育问题的知识可能会妨碍一个人有效地管理其生育能力。在澳大利亚, 人们目前对于生育知识知之甚少。

目的：确定生活在澳大利亚的育龄男女在生育管理方面的信息和知识差距

方法：从 2013 年澳大利亚选民名册中随机招募的18-50 岁女性和男性样本 (N = 2235)。调查对象填写了一份匿名调查问卷, 问卷中关于他们生育管理方面可以选择提供详细的自由文本评论。对这些评论进行了主题分析, 以确定生育管理知识和信息方面的差距。

结果：在519名参与者的评论中, 472名参与了分析：女性366名（77.5％）, 男性106名（22.5％）。大多数评论涉及避孕或生育问题。确定了两个关于避孕的主题：(1) 缺乏避孕的信息和知识以及对副作用的担忧；(2) 避孕教育不足。确定了关于生育问题的两个主题：(1) 缺乏关于生育的信息和知识；(2) 受孕困难, 包括获得辅助生殖治疗和其他治疗。各主题间未发现重大性别或年龄差异

结论：许多澳大利亚女性和男性欢迎关于避孕选择和与年龄有关的生育力下降的教育和公共卫生活动。这种干预可能使妇女和男性能够管理其生育能力并实现其生殖目标。

Keywords:

• Fertility management
• contraception
• conception
• age-related fertility
• sex education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant [LP100200432] with funding and in-kind contributions from Family Planning Victoria, Melbourne IVF, The Royal Women’s Hospital, and the Victorian Department of Health.