Fertility Awareness Counseling for Adolescent Girls; Guiding Conception: The Right Time, Right Weight, and Right Way

Optimizing health literacy to facilitate reproductive health decision-making in adolescent and young adults with cancer

Despite being considered "standard of care" by many organizations, fertility and reproductive health communications and counseling practices remain inconsistent for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) newly diagnosed with cancer and during survivorship. One factor known to affect how information is provided and received in the medical setting is health literacy. Providers should consider health literacy to optimize reproductive health communication with AYAs as they cope with their diagnosis, understand what it means for their future, process information about treatment options, learn about their potential harmful effects on fertility, make quick decisions about fertility preservation, and navigate a future family planning course. Thus, the objectives of this manuscript are to (a) summarize literature on reproductive health literacy; (b) describe health literacy frameworks; (c) examine ways to assess health literacy; and (d) identify ways to enhance clinician-patient communication in the AYA oncofertility setting.

U.S. Women's Knowledge of Reproductive Biology

BACKGROUND

Having accurate knowledge of reproductive biology can help women to improve their general, sexual, and reproductive health and assert their sexual and reproductive rights.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study examined knowledge of three topics (age-related fertility decline, egg supply, fertile period) among a national probability sample of 1,779 nonsterilized, English-speaking women (aged 18-29 years) in the U.S. general population. Using bivariate and multivariable regressions, we assessed associations between knowledge of these topics and individual characteristics.

RESULTS

Most respondents were unmarried (63%), childless (78%), and intended to have children (65%); 51% did not know whether they would have difficulty conceiving, and 44% had discussed fertility-related topics with a health care provider. More respondents knew the age of marked fertility decline (62%) than the fertile period (59%) or that ovaries do not continuously produce new eggs (45%); 22% knew all three topics, and 13% knew none. In multivariable analysis, knowledge was positively associated (p < .001) with education, income, and having regular periods. Black and Asian respondents and those for whom religion was very important were less likely (all p values < .01) than White and nonreligious respondents to know all three topics. Knowledge was unrelated to relationship status, parity, childbearing intentions, receipt of fertility-related counseling or services, self-perceived infertility risk, or health status; the relationship with Hispanic ethnicity approached but did not reach significance (p = .08).

CONCLUSIONS

Young U.S. women have incomplete knowledge of aspects of their reproductive biology; these knowledge gaps could increase their risk of adverse health and reproductive outcomes. Policy-, provider-, and client-level interventions are warranted to address these knowledge gaps.

Living Your Best Life: Lifestyle Medicine for All Women

In an era of ever-increasing healthcare expenditures, yet simultaneously worsening outcomes, many of our patients choose between traditional medical care or often unproven alternative therapies. While the recognition of lifestyle change in addressing cardiovascular and metabolic disease grows, there is less understanding of the impact of lifestyle change on issues facing women every day. Millions of women around the globe struggle with infertility, cancer, sexual dysfunction, and dermatologic needs. Yet, research on the benefits of lifestyle change on these conditions is scarce, and gaps exist both in our understanding of evidence-based approaches to address these issues, as well as adequate provider education when evidence exists. The Women’s Health Member Interest Group convened medical experts in these areas that affect women’s lives to provide insights and meaningful education applicable not only for our patients, but also in our own lives.

FertiSTAT: A Potential Tool for Adolescent Sexual Health

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The FertiSTAT (fertility status awareness) tool provides personalized advice on reducing risk factors for infertility and seeking medical advice on the basis of lifestyle and reproductive profile. The aim of our research was to test the FertiSTAT tool in younger patients (14-24 years). A secondary objective was to screen for and evaluate knowledge of risk factors that affect fertility. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients aged 14-24 years attending consultations at Geneva University Hospitals received a quantitative questionnaire before consultations. Questions covered lifestyle, gynecological history, perception of fertility, and pregnancy intent. We investigated respondents' beliefs with regard to risk factors for infertility through "true/false" questions. We selected questions relevant to our population from the original FertiSTAT questionnaire to calculate each respondent's FertiSTAT score. Scores ranged from "blue" (low risk, score 1) to "red" (risk of infertility, score 4).

RESULTS

A total of 279 women aged 14-24 years were included. Nonpregnant patients had overall higher FertiSTAT scores (2.7 ± 0.8). Upon logistic regression analysis, with every additional FertiSTAT point, the odds of being pregnant at the time of survey decreased by 0.48. Risk factors for infertility and knowledge of these risk factors were equally distributed between pregnant and nonpregnant women.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest FertiSTAT might be a useful tool in the younger population to whom we extended it, and highlight gaps in knowledge on risk factors for infertility. These findings are of interest when considering FertiSTAT as a starting point to discuss contraception and risk factors for infertility at an age at which risk mitigation would prove most effective in preserving future fertility.

Fertility Counseling for Adolescents

Fertility awareness, or general knowledge about one's fertility, is low in adolescents and in adult women as well. Misconceptions about reproduction contribute to high rates of unplanned pregnancy in the United States, as well as delayed childbearing and infertility. Alhough primary care providers caring for adolescents have historically focused on contraception and reduction of sexually transmitted infections during their sexual and reproductive health conversations with adolescents and young adult women, fertility awareness counseling would help these women optimize their future fertility and make informed reproductive choices throughout their life. This is particularly true for adolescents with chronic medical conditions, certain gynecologic conditions, or a history of therapies that could potentially affect fertility, for whom preemptive conversations about fertility are needed, but often overlooked. [Pediatr Ann. 2019;48(2):e86-e91.].

Knowledge of age-related fertility decline in women: A systematic review

Age-related fertility decline (ARFD) knowledge has been evaluated in the past decade, showing that there is a general knowledge of the reduction of fertility with age. Here we review the studies published up to date which quantitatively measure this ARFD knowledge, to answer the question: how aware about ARFD is our society? We searched the terms "age", "fertility knowledge", "fertility awareness", "reproduction knowledge", "reproductive knowledge" and "reproductive health knowledge" in PubMed, Web of Science, PsychINFO and Scopus, within January 2000 and December 2016. We found 41 studies that quantitatively measured ARFD knowledge by asking for the most fertile age for a woman and/or when there are a slight and a marked decrease in female fertility. We obtained this searching for the questions: What is the most fertile age for a woman? (Q1). When there is a slight decrease in female fertility? (Q2) and, When there is a marked decrease in female fertility? (Q3). We further evaluated the knowledge increase in the 6 studies assessing an educational intervention, 4 of them randomized controlled trials (RCT). Participants reporting the most fertile age for women to be at 20-24 y.o. ranged 16%-89.4% (Q1); participants reporting a slight decrease in female fertility at 25-29 y.o. ranged 5.1%-83% (Q2), and those reporting that a marked decrease occurs between 35-39 y.o. ranged 5.6%-60% (Q3). On the whole, the studies included in this review conclude that ARFD knowledge is insufficient, particularly in determining when female fertility markedly decreases. ARFD knowledge can be increased through targeted campaigns, but few interventional studies have been performed up to date. In view of these results, ARFD campaigns targeted to reproductive age people and healthcare providers are necessary; this would help the society to make informed reproductive decisions throughout life.

Important but far away: adolescents' beliefs, awareness and experiences of fertility and preconception health

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to explore adolescents' beliefs and awareness regarding fertility and preconception health, as well as their views and experiences of information about fertility and preconception health directed at their age group.

METHODS

We performed seven semi-structured focus group interviews among upper secondary school students (n = 47) aged 16-18 years in two Swedish counties. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

One theme ('important but far away') and five categories ('starting a family far down on the list'; 'high awareness but patchy knowledge of fertility and preconception health'; 'gender roles influence beliefs about fertility and preconception health'; 'wish to preserve fertility and preconception health in order to keep the door to procreation open'; 'no panacea - early and continuous education about fertility and preconception health') emerged from the interviews. Participants recognised the importance of preconception health and were highly aware of the overall importance of a healthy lifestyle. Their knowledge, however, was patchy and they had difficulties relating to fertility and preconception health on a personal and behavioural level. Participants wanted more information but had heterogeneous beliefs about when, where and how this information should be given.

CONCLUSION

The adolescents wanted information on fertility and preconception health to be delivered repeatedly as well as through different sources.

Low fertility awareness in United States reproductive-aged women and medical trainees: creation and validation of the Fertility & Infertility Treatment Knowledge Score (FIT-KS)

OBJECTIVE

To create, validate, and use a fertility awareness survey based on current U.S.

DATA

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Not applicable.

PATIENT(S)

Phase 1 included U.S. women ages 18-45; phase 2 included female medical students and obstetrics and gynecology trainees at two urban academic programs.

INTERVENTION(S)

Survey including demographics, the Fertility & Infertility Treatment Knowledge Score (FIT-KS) instrument, and General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Knowledge of natural fertility and infertility treatments.

RESULT(S)

The FIT-KS was validated through detailed item and validity analyses. In phase 1, 127 women participated; their median age was 31 years, and 43.7% had children. Their mean FIT-KS score was 16.2 ± 3.5 (55.9% correct). In phase 2, 118 medical trainees participated; their median age was 25 years, and 12.4% had children. Their mean FIT-KS score was 18.8 ± 2.1 (64.9% correct), with year of training correlating to a higher score (r=0.40). Participant awareness regarding lifestyle factors varied, but it was particularly low regarding the effects of lubricants. The majority underestimated the spontaneous miscarriage rate and overestimated the fecundability of 40-year-old women. There was general overestimation of success rates for assisted reproductive technologies, particularly among medical trainees.

CONCLUSION(S)

The FIT-KS is validated to current U.S. data for use in both general and medical populations as a quick assessment of fertility knowledge. The knowledge gaps demonstrated in this study correlate with national trends in delayed childbearing and time to initiate treatment. For medical trainees, these results raise concerns about the quality of fertility counseling they may be able to offer patients. Greater educational outreach must be undertaken to enhance fertility awareness.