Self-perception of infertility among female adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and correlates of the self-perception of infertility among female adolescents.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Urban adolescent clinic in a neighborhood health center in Denver, Colo.


METHODS
Two hundred sexually active, nulliparous, 14- through 18-year-old female adolescents.


RESULTS
Concerns about fertility were expressed by 43 (21.5%) of the 200 respondents. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors most strongly associated with the self-perception of infertility were as follows (odds ratios; 95% confidence interval): a history of discussing infertility with anyone (4.3; 1.8 to 10.4); desire for pregnancy (3.8; 1.4 to 10.3); boyfriend desiring pregnancy (3.0; 1.1 to 8.3); a history of sexually transmitted disease(s) (3.0; 1.2 to 7.1); and having an older boyfriend (2.6; (1.1 to 6.2). Adolescents who doubted their fertility used contraceptives less frequently than other teens (30% vs 55% of the time; P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The self-perception of infertility is common among sexually active urban female adolescents and may pose another barrier to contraceptive use. Our findings may help clinicians counsel adolescents about contraceptives more effectively.
Rainey
D Y
DY
Department of Pediatrics, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.
Stevens-Simon
C
C
Kaplan
D W
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003120:Colorado; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014505:Urban Population