Grant: Knowledge Translation Supplement

The medical costs and psychosocial consequences of the increasing trend to delay childbearing are immense. Accurate information for informed childbearing decisions is essential. The findings from our recent, CIHR/AHRC funded research survey of 3340 childless women and 600 childless men, provide unequivocal evidence that Canadian women and men do not have the information they need about the psychosocial and medical consequences of delayed childbearing, the availability and costs of assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments, and the limitations of medical technology in overcoming the consequences of age-related fertility decline. Of 16 fertility knowledge items, 50% or more of female respondents answered only 6 items correctly, and of 20 knowledge items, 50% or more of male respondents answered only 4 items correctly. A significant proportion of respondents knew that fertility declines with age, yet most believed that fitness and health are a better indicator of fertility than age. The majority of respondents wrongly assumed that until menopause, AHR can help most women to have a child using their own eggs. Both sexes cited the internet as their current and preferred source of fertility information. Based on these findings we are proposing to develop an interactive website to support fertility knowledge and awareness and informed reproductive decision-making. The website will include up-to-date information about fertility and AHR, FAQs, online forums, and links to other resources and current information. Medical and mental health specialists with expertise in fertility and reproductive decision-making will respond to posted questions in a bi-weekly "ask an expert" section. We have secured permission to post a link to our URL on relevant Canadian web-sites (e.g. Infertility Awareness Association of Canada; Options for Sexual Health; AHRC) and several medical and mental health specialists have agreed to share their expertise in responding to visitors' questions.