Mariana Sousa-Leite1, Bárbara Figueiredo2, Anne Ter Keurst3, Jacky Boivin4, Sofia Gameiro5. 1. School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: a70818@alunos.uminho.pt. 2. School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: bbfi@psi.uminho.pt. 3. Rijnstate Hospital, Wagnerlaan 55, 6815 AD Arnhem, the Netherlands. Electronic address: anne@terkeurst.nl. 4. Cardiff Fertility Studies Group, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, CF10 3AT, Cardiff, UK. Electronic address: boivin@cardiff.ac.uk. 5. Cardiff Fertility Studies Group, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, CF10 3AT, Cardiff, UK. Electronic address: gameiros@cardiff.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The health belief and transtheoretical model were used to describe how women make decisions about fertility preservation (FP) and identify factors that predict their decisions. METHODS: This is a two-year prospective study with 107 childless women aged 30-37. Women filled anonline survey assessing individual factors, intentions to do FP, variables of the health belief model, FP decisional stage and FP behaviour. RESULTS: Women´s intentions, desire and number of children wanted decreased, fertility knowledge and perceived susceptibility to infertility increased and perceived severity of infertility decreased. A low number of women progressed through the stages of the decision-making process. Only 14% reached a decision and all decided not to do FP. Women's baseline intentions to do FP predicted their decision. CONCLUSION: Women at the optimal age range to do FP (28-35 years) do not engage in decision-making about it, which reflects their initial low intentions to do FP. Women's decision about FP is influenced by their perceptions about the technique. PRATICAL IMPLICATIONS: Women with a high desire for parenthood and within the optimal age range to do FP should receive accurate information about it and could benefit from prompts to engage in active decision-making about doing it.
OBJECTIVE: The health belief and transtheoretical model were used to describe how women make decisions about fertility preservation (FP) and identify factors that predict their decisions. METHODS: This is a two-year prospective study with 107 childless women aged 30-37. Women filled anonline survey assessing individual factors, intentions to do FP, variables of the health belief model, FP decisional stage and FP behaviour. RESULTS:Women´s intentions, desire and number of children wanted decreased, fertility knowledge and perceived susceptibility to infertility increased and perceived severity of infertility decreased. A low number of women progressed through the stages of the decision-making process. Only 14% reached a decision and all decided not to do FP. Women's baseline intentions to do FP predicted their decision. CONCLUSION:Women at the optimal age range to do FP (28-35 years) do not engage in decision-making about it, which reflects their initial low intentions to do FP. Women's decision about FP is influenced by their perceptions about the technique. PRATICAL IMPLICATIONS: Women with a high desire for parenthood and within the optimal age range to do FP should receive accurate information about it and could benefit from prompts to engage in active decision-making about doing it.