title: Women's views of a fertility awareness and hormonal support approach to subfertility.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the satisfaction among subfertile women of a fertility awareness-based approach, including hormonal therapy to achieve a pregnancy by natural conception. Eighty four women attending a natural fertility service completed a postal questionnaire exploring (1) the acceptability of the sympto-thermal method and (2) the acceptability of using hormone support. Acceptability rates for the fertility charting, clinical service and clinical care were 64.9-91.6%. Acceptability rates were higher in women who did conceive or had experienced past recurrent miscarriages. Taking hormonal luteal support, by any method, was more acceptable for women over 35 years compared to those under 35 years (100% vs. 69.4%, p = 0.014). Vaginal pessaries were the preferred route of administration. The use of a fertility awareness-based method appears to be acceptable amongst subfertile women intending to conceive naturally. Most women using such a method for conception would be open to the use of hormonal support during the fertility cycle or early pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Mater Health Services, Obstetrics and Gynaecology , South Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Lucas Anthony
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McLindon
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flenady
authors.forename: H David
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones