title: Knowledge of ovarian reserve and reproductive choices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the factors that influence the reproductive choices of health care professionals, and to assess whether knowledge of ovarian reserve would modify those choices.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey utilizing anonymous questionnaires that assessed demographics, knowledge, attitudes and choices of female and male health care professionals between the ages of 20-55 (N = 185) who work at an academic medical center
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 185 respondents, 75% were female, 35% were residents and 35% were married. Among those who were delaying childbearing 39% wanted to complete their education, 25% had no identified partner, 10% were too active professionally and 4% could not afford children at the time. If testing of the individual or individual's partner indicated diminished ovarian reserve, 48% of those responding would try to have a child sooner, 21% would opt for oocyte cryopreservation, 7% would try to find a partner sooner, 7% would pursue adoption, and 3% would select embryo cryopreservation. Only 14% would not actively pursue treatment or make lifestyle changes. These results varied significantly with marital status but did not differ between participants with and without children. Similarly, choices did not vary significantly with religious belief or ethnicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased information about a woman's reproductive reserve would lead individuals to modify life choices. Physicians caring for reproductive-age women and men should inquire about their childbearing plans, and educate those who are postponing childbearing regarding the normal pattern of reproductive decline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maimonides Medical Center, 967 48th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11219, USA, eazhar@maimonidesmed.org.
authors.forename: Erum
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azhar
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Seifer
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Melzer
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weedon
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minkoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D065851:Ovarian Reserve; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D012098:Reproduction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires