What Would You Do If You Knew?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Many women are unaware that delaying childbearing may lead to a decline in fertility. A questionnaire was designed to better understand their perspectives. METHODS: Anonymous surveys were distributed to women over 17 years old at Lutheran Medical Center. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-eight of 566 questionnaires (70%) were successfully returned. Mean age was 37±11 years. A total of 58.5% had children. A total of 7.9% were treated for infertility. A total of 51.8% received a Bachelor's degree or higher. A total of 86.2% believed women 38 years and older were “too old” to bear children. A total of 89.3% believed that becoming pregnant is more difficult with increasing age. A total of 35.2% of participants with a Bachelor's degree or higher compared with 18.2% of those with less education reported that they delayed childbearing (P=.001). Of 25–34 year olds, 43.9% with a college degree or higher compared with 18.2% with less education delayed childbearing (P=.002). A total of 49.4% of women with a 2-year college degree or less believed in altering life plans to accommodate for earlier childbearing compared with 35.2% of women with a 4-year college degree or more (P=.018). A total of 64.2% of women were willing to be tested to assess the potential lifespan of remaining reproductive years. A total of 75.7% of 18–24 year olds and 74.1% of 25–34 year olds compared with 39.5% of 46–69 year olds would have such tests (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pursuit of higher education, career development, and finances were reported as reasons for postponing childbearing. The use of ovarian reserve testing should be used in clinical practice to assist women in determining their future fertility.