Knowledge and belief about fertility preservation for medical and social reasons among Iranian female students

Abstract Study question What is the knowledge and beliefs of the female students in Tehran universities regarding the oocyte cryopreservation for medical and social reasons? Summary answer This study highlighted the positive attitude but insufficient knowledge about medical and social egg freezing and the ideal timing of childbearing in female students. What is known already Emerging research indicates that physiologic or pathologic ovarian aging limits the female reproductive capacity and oocyte cryopreservation (OC) is a rapidly evolving branch of reproductive medicine. Given the growing numbers of young women surviving cancer, along with increasing numbers of high educated women postponing childbearing for educational or professional pursuits, there will be a growing demand for egg freezing services to guarantee the pregnancy in near future. Egg freezing can prevent age-related infertility, but it also can cause new potentially ethical and financial problems and the neonatal and maternal risks of childbearing at an advanced maternal age. Study design, size, duration Totally, 1279 students from Tehran universities were included in this cross-sectional survey between March and August 2022. Participants/materials, setting, methods The survey was distributed through an online forum and advertised on social media groups targeting students in Tehran universities. Childless students in master's and doctoral degrees with the age of ≤ 38 years were included. Bachelor’s students were not included. Knowledge and beliefs about medical and non-medical oocyte cryopreservation were assessed through Fertility Preservation Survey (FPS) instrument. To analyze the data, descriptive statistical methods (mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistics (One-way ANOVA) were used. Main results and the role of chance The majority of participants were 30-34 years (41.1%, M: 26.38± 4.9), not married (77.2%), master’s student (77.7%), and hoped to have 2 children in the future (40.5%). Most of participants expected to be “30-34 years” when they become pregnant with their first child (34.4%) and “35-39 years” when they give birth to their last child (39.1%). The students agreed with preserving fertility with medical (93.3%) and social (86.9%) indications and believed medical (95.1%) and social (87.4%) costs of cryopreservation should be covered by health system. Participants believed in the routine providing of information about egg freezing to women of childbearing age as part of regular healthcare visits by health care professionals (95.5%). Women stated if they decide not to use eggs to become pregnant, they would consider donating them for fertility research (67.1%), to a friend or family member with fertility problems (58.1 %) and to infertile couples (42.7%). The overall correct response to knowledge questions was 57.7% which is relatively moderate. The marital status (P = 0.028), university faculty (P = 0.025) and occupation (P = 0.048) were related to knowledge. Married (M: 7.40±1.98) and unemployed students (M: 7.24±2.24) had more knowledge and students of Art faculty had lower knowledge than other faculties (M: 6.36±2.22). Limitations, reasons for caution The results would not be generalizable to all female students because the research project’s advertisement may have been ignored by students who are not interested in childbearing or it might have been noticed by students who are more interested in childbearing and preserving their fertility. Wider implications of the findings The findings are valuable in planning fertility preservation services. The supportive policies for childbearing could be expanded to cover the costs of fertility preservation. Midwives could play an important role in increasing the knowledge about age-related infertility and oocyte cryopreservation and help students in their reproductive life planning. Trial registration number not applicable