The need to improve fertility awareness

Joyce Harper; Jacky Boivin; Helen C O'Neill; Kate Brian; Jennifer Dhingra; Grace Dugdale; Genevieve Edwards; Lucy Emmerson; Bola Grace; Alison Hadley; Laura Hamzic; Jenny Heathcote; Jessica Hepburn; Lesley Hoggart; Fiona Kisby; Sue Mann; Sarah Norcross; Lesley Regan; Susan Seenan; Judith Stephenson; Harry Walker; Adam Balen

doi:10.1016/j.rbms.2017.03.002

The need to improve fertility awareness

Reprod Biomed Soc Online. 2017 Apr 8:4:18-20. doi: 10.1016/j.rbms.2017.03.002. eCollection 2017 Jun.

Authors

Joyce Harper¹, Jacky Boivin², Helen C O'Neill¹, Kate Brian³, Jennifer Dhingra⁴, Grace Dugdale⁵, Genevieve Edwards⁶, Lucy Emmerson⁷, Bola Grace¹, Alison Hadley⁸, Laura Hamzic⁹, Jenny Heathcote¹⁰, Jessica Hepburn¹¹, Lesley Hoggart¹², Fiona Kisby¹³, Sue Mann¹⁴, Sarah Norcross¹⁵, Lesley Regan¹⁶, Susan Seenan³, Judith Stephenson¹, Harry Walker¹⁰, Adam Balen¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ Embryology, IVF and Reproductive Genetics Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, UK.
² School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
³ Fertility Network, UK.
⁴ Sexpression, UK.
⁵ Freelance Writer and Reproductive Biologist.
⁶ Marie Stopes International, 1 Conway Street, Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 6LP, UK.
⁷ Sex Education Forum, London.
⁸ Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange, University of Bedfordshire.
⁹ Brook, London, UK.
¹⁰ Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), UK.
¹¹ Author and Founder of Fertility Fest.
¹² School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, The Open University.
¹³ Institute of Education, University College London.
¹⁴ Public Health England.
¹⁵ Director of the Progress Educational Trust.
¹⁶ Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
¹⁷ Leeds Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Seacroft Hospital, York Road, Leeds, UK.

Abstract

Women and men globally are delaying the birth of their first child. In the UK, the average age of first conception in women is 29 years. Women experience age-related fertility decline so it is important that men and women are well-informed about this, and other aspects of fertility. A group of UK stakeholders have established the Fertility Education Initiative to develop tools and information for children, adults, teachers, parents and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving knowledge of fertility and reproductive health.

Keywords: age; awareness; fertility; infertility; pregnancy.