Grant: Catalyst Grant: Psychosocial Issues Associated with Assisted Human Reproduction

The fertility rate over the last 20 years in Canada has steadily declined for women in their twenties, while tripling from 14% to 48% for women in their thirties. The birthrate for Canadian women in their forties has also tripled in the past 30 years. The psychosocial and medical consequences of delayed childbearing are so serious that fertility specialists in England have coined the term "infertility timebomb" in reference to the increasing number of women who, in delaying childbearing, significantly reduce their chances of having children. Although recent research suggests many women are aware that fertility declines with age, some women appear to believe any age-related decline in fertility can be compensated for through the use of assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF. However, assisted human reproduction (AHR) is often financially prohibitive, restricted in availability, and limited in terms of success rates, particularly in cases of age-related fertility decline - leaving some women unintentionally childless. It is essential to assess women's fertility knowledge and beliefs about delayed childbearing, AHR treatments, and alternate parenting options, in order to develop targeted and effective educational strategies and interventions to support fertility awareness and informed reproductive decision-making. In this study a Fertility Awareness Survey (FAS) developed and pilot tested by the researchers will be administered to a geographically and demographically diverse sample of at least 1,000 childless and presumed fertile Canadian women between the ages of 30 and 45 who intend to pursue a pregnancy in the future. The FAS will assess participants' fertility knowledge and beliefs about AHR, as well as identifying their current and preferred sources for accessing reproductive information. The findings will inform health policy and guide the development of targeted public education programs and material to support informed reproductive decision-making.