title: Childless women's knowledge of fertility and assisted human reproduction: identifying the gaps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the knowledge about fertility and assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments of a large sample of childless women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report questionnaire comprising two self-ratings of current fertility and AHR knowledge, and 16 knowledge questions related to fertility and AHR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3,345 childless women between the ages of 20 and 50.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knowledge of fertility and AHR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of participants rated themselves as having some knowledge or being fairly knowledgeable about fertility and AHR. However, on the 16 knowledge questions, overall knowledge was low, with 50% or more of the sample answering only 6 of 16 questions correctly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that the women in the study have no coherent body of knowledge regarding age-related fertility and AHR treatment options. With an increasing number of women electing to delay childbearing, there is a critical need for public education regarding age-related fertility declines and the availability, costs, and limitations of AHR. This study offers important mental health contributions to infertility prevention and public health education efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. judith.daniluk@ubc.ca
authors.forename: Judith C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Daniluk
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koert
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D017048:Health Care Costs; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult