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How effective is digital educational content in shaping fertility awareness? An interventional, cross-sectional study

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To determine whether exposure to digital educational content affects fertility awareness and attitudes towards fertility preservation treatments?

Methods

A total of 957 women ages 20 to 45 years participated in this internet-based, interventional, cross-sectional study. A questionnaire assessing knowledge of the reproductive span and attitudes towards fertility preservation treatment was completed by these women before and after exposure to online educational content on ovarian reserve and fertility preservation treatments. Responses before and after exposure to the educational content were compared.

Results

Knowledge about female age-related fertility decline improved significantly after exposure to educational content (51.6% vs. 79.6%, p < 0.001). Increased willingness to pursue fertility preservation treatments (38.6% vs. 42.9%, p < 0.001) and to recommend fertility preservation treatments to friends (55% vs. 65.2%, p < 0.001) was observed. Participants who desired to conceive were more positively influenced by the exposure to educational content in their attitudes towards fertility treatments compared to those who do not desire to conceive.

Conclusions

Online educational content has the potential to improve fertility awareness and shape a more positive attitude towards fertility preservation treatments for the public.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel

    Einat Haikin Herzberger, Offra Engel, Reut Ben Kimhy, Netanella Miller & Amir Wiser

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Einat Haikin Herzberger, Bei Sun, Offra Engel, Yael Wolf, Shai Herzberger, Reut Ben Kimhy, Netanella Miller & Amir Wiser

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel

    Shai Herzberger

  4. Hadassah Hospital, Mt. Scopus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel

    Anat Hershko-Klement

Authors
  1. Einat Haikin Herzberger
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  2. Bei Sun
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  3. Offra Engel
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  4. Yael Wolf
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  5. Shai Herzberger
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Correspondence to Einat Haikin Herzberger.

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Ethics approval

The study was approved by the Meir Medical Center Institutional Review Board (MMC-0001–21).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Herzberger, E.H., Sun, B., Engel, O. et al. How effective is digital educational content in shaping fertility awareness? An interventional, cross-sectional study. J Assist Reprod Genet 39, 2335–2341 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-022-02590-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-022-02590-1

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