A new study by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine finds that many women are uninformed about reproductive health. Researchers surveyed 1,000 women between the ages of 18 and 40 on their knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding contraception, pregnancy, and reproductive health.
The results showed that large percentages of women tended to be unaware of risks to fertility, proper prenatal health, and the adverse effects of advanced age on reproductive success. Many women also believe in myths regarding how to increase the chance of becoming pregnant.
The authors also note that 50 percent of women in the survey had never discussed reproductive health with a physician or other medical services provider and 30 percent of the women surveyed visited their reproductive health provider less than once each year or never.
Jessica Illuzzi, associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the study, states, “This study, on one hand, brings to the forefront gaps in women’s knowledge about their reproductive health, and on the other, highlights women’s concerns that are often not discussed with health providers. It is important that these conversations happen in this ever-changing family landscape.”
The study, “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Conception and Fertility: A Population-Based Survey Among Reproductive-Age United States Women,” was published on the website of Fertility & Sterility, a journal of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.