An experimental evaluation of the benefits and costs of providing fertility information to adolescents and emerging adults

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONDoes the provision of fertility (compared to control) information affect fertility-related knowledge, perceived threat of infertility, anxiety, physical stress and fertility plans in adolescents and emerging adults?SUMMARY ANSWERThe provision of fertility information was associated with increased fertility knowledge (emerging adults) and greater infertility threat (adolescents and emerging adults).WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYAccording to fertility education research, adolescents and emerging adults know less than they should know about fertility topics. Fertility knowledge can be improved through the provision of information in older adults.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONExperimental design. Secondary and university students completed pre-information questionnaires, were randomly assigned via computer to an experimental group, read either fertility (FertiEduc group) or healthy pregnancy information (Control group), and completed post-information questionnaires. Data were collected in group sessions via an online portal.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSEligible participants were aged 16 –18 (adolescents) or 21–24 years (emerging adults), childless, not currently pregnant (for men, partner not pregnant) or trying to conceive, presumed fertile and intending to have a child in the future. Of the 255 invited, 208 (n = 93 adolescents,n = 115 emerging adults) participated. The FertiEduc group received ‘A Guide to Fertility’, four online pages of informatio...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research