Abstract
The tendency to delay parenthood is increasing. It is partly driven by the availability of early reproductive technologies such as social oocyte freezing, the cryopreservation of oocytes for non-medical purposes. The goal of this study was to investigate relationships between attitudes towards social oocyte freezing and different socio-cultural backgrounds in a German sample cohort. A quantitative online questionnaire was compiled. A total of 643 participants completed the questionnaire which included items on attitudes toward social oocyte freezing, socio-demographics and items, obtained from the German DELTA Institute for Social and Ecological Research, devised to indicate specific milieus. Data were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric methods. There were clear correlations between attitudes towards social oocyte freezing and socio-cultural background, gender, cohort age, fertility problems, and attitudes to fertility. Positive attitudes towards social oocyte freezing were linked to struggles with fertility, a current or general wish to have a child, and flexible, progressive and self-oriented values. Participants who preferred to become parents at a younger age tended to reject cryopreservation. The huge number of university graduates, persons with fertility problems, and persons from specific socio-cultural backgrounds in our sample point to distinct groups interested in reproductive technologies such as social oocyte freezing. The investigated differences as a function of socio-cultural background suggest that more research into the desire to have children in German society is needed. In conclusion, it may be necessary to develop targeted family planning interventions to prevent affected women from buying into a false sense of security, thereby risking unwanted childlessness.
Highlights
The tendency to delay parenthood is increasing
Unspecified fertility problems were reported by 34.3 % of women and 12.5 % of men; 38.5 % of women and 33.3 % of men already had children. 69 % of the participants were university graduates
social oocyte freezing” (SOF) attitude categories were created by splitting SOF attitude items into three groups of attitudes: the first group consisted of
Summary
The tendency to delay parenthood is increasing It is partly driven by the availability of early reproductive technologies such as social oocyte freezing, the cryopreservation of oocytes for non-medical purposes. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Beziehungen zwischen den Einstellungen zum sozialen Einfrieren von Eizellen und den unterschiedlichen soziokulturellen Milieus in einer deutschen Kohorte zu untersuchen. Der Fragebogen enthielt Inhalte, die die Einstellung zum sozialen Einfrieren von Eizellen und soziodemografische Informationen erfragten, sowie Fragen, die vom DELTAInstitut für Sozial- und Ökologieforschung zur Eruierung spezifischer Milieus entwickelt wurden. Ergebnisse Es fanden sich klare Zusammenhänge zwischen den Einstellungen zum sozialen Einfrieren von Eizellen und Schick M et al Attitudes towards Social. Schlussfolgerung Die große Anzahl Universitätsabsolventen, Personen mit Fertilitätsproblemen und Personen mit spezifischen soziokulturellen Hintergründen in unserer Stichprobe machen deutlich, dass klar definierte Gruppen sich für Reproduktionstechniken wie das soziale Einfrieren von Eizellen interessieren. Reasons to postpone parenthood included the lack of a suitable partner, not feeling mature enough, wanting to achieve financial security, and wanting to do other things before starting a family [4, 7].
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