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Research suggests that low fertility awareness (FA) may be a contributing factor to infertility. The aim of this study was to determine whether education improves knowledge in FA and to explore the associations between FA knowledge and time to pregnancy (TTP). A 20-point self-administered FA questionnaire (FAQ) was completed by 180 subfertile women on their first visit to a hospital-based fertility assessment and research clinic, followed by an education session on FA. Women completed the same FAQ after receiving the education session. There was an increase in the FAQ score after the women received FA education (post-education FAQ score: mean, M = 15.68, SD = 1.8) compared with the score before the session [(pre-education FAQ score: M = 13.87, SD = 1.9), t(179)=–10.547, p < 0.001]. Pregnancy was achieved in 88 women (49%). Women with a higher post-education FAQ score (≥15 points) had a shorter TTP (M = 6.4 months, SD = 4.1) than women with post-education FAQ scores <15 [M = 8.8 months, SD = 6.0, t(86)=2.231, p = 0.028]. Greater time trying to conceive was negatively predictive of the hazard for achieving a pregnancy (b=–0.021, se = 0.008, p = 0.005), while age had no significant effect. FA knowledge in women attending a fertility clinic significantly improved after education. Higher FA may reduce TTP in subfertile women who are actively trying to conceive naturally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the satisfaction among subfertile women of a fertility awareness-based approach, including hormonal therapy to achieve a pregnancy by natural conception. Eighty four women attending a natural fertility service completed a postal questionnaire exploring (1) the acceptability of the sympto-thermal method and (2) the acceptability of using hormone support. Acceptability rates for the fertility charting, clinical service and clinical care were 64.9-91.6%. Acceptability rates were higher in women who did conceive or had experienced past recurrent miscarriages. Taking hormonal luteal support, by any method, was more acceptable for women over 35 years compared to those under 35 years (100% vs. 69.4%, p = 0.014). Vaginal pessaries were the preferred route of administration. The use of a fertility awareness-based method appears to be acceptable amongst subfertile women intending to conceive naturally. Most women using such a method for conception would be open to the use of hormonal support during the fertility cycle or early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]