Miaow
20-10-2008, 16:10
IVF survey shows Australians ignorant of fertility facts
October 20, 2008 01:51pm
COUPLES seeking IVF are "extremely ignorant'' of the fertility basics, with most unaware that weight and lifestyle affect their pregnancy chances and 20 per cent unsure of the best time to have sex.
A survey to be presented to a national fertility conference has revealed what specialists are calling "disappointing'' data on fertility knowledge which may be contributing to Australia's rising infertility rates.
"Basically we have found that an alarming number of people coming forward for IVF treatment are failing the test of basic factual information, like when is the right time to have intercourse,'' said study leader Professor Michael Chapman from IVF Australia.
"That's worrying to say the least.''
Clinicians tested the knowledge of 60 women going through their first IVF cycle at a Sydney clinic and found nearly a third did not think that age was a factor, despite the fact they were at the point of seeking IVF treatment.
"Only 30 per cent knew that smoking, alcohol, caffeine and weight had an impact on their potential fertility - even though this is well known in science circles - and of those, only 60 per cent had actually done anything to alter it,'' said Prof Chapman, head of women's and children's health at the University of NSW.
"Clearly we're not getting the message through.''
One in six Australian couples experience infertility, defined as trying to conceive unsuccessfully for a year.
Specialists blame delays in starting a family until the prospective parents are older and more prone to fertility difficulties.
Prof Chapman said extremely poor knowledge "is certainly not helping these figures''.
"I believe the problem is that there's a real 'not me' mentality out there,'' he said.
"Like smokers who believe they'll never get lung cancer, people just seem to keep drinking, smoking, doing what they do believing they can't be affected, but that's not true.''
Professor Rob Norman, director of the Research Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Adelaide, said poor knowledge was unsurprising given weak understanding of science in the general community.
"And there seems to be a feeling out there that IVF will solve everything regardless of your lifestyle so you can do what you want,'' Prof Norman said.
"The statistics show that's not the case.''
The study will be presented in Brisbane tomorrow.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24523443-29277,00.html
October 20, 2008 01:51pm
COUPLES seeking IVF are "extremely ignorant'' of the fertility basics, with most unaware that weight and lifestyle affect their pregnancy chances and 20 per cent unsure of the best time to have sex.
A survey to be presented to a national fertility conference has revealed what specialists are calling "disappointing'' data on fertility knowledge which may be contributing to Australia's rising infertility rates.
"Basically we have found that an alarming number of people coming forward for IVF treatment are failing the test of basic factual information, like when is the right time to have intercourse,'' said study leader Professor Michael Chapman from IVF Australia.
"That's worrying to say the least.''
Clinicians tested the knowledge of 60 women going through their first IVF cycle at a Sydney clinic and found nearly a third did not think that age was a factor, despite the fact they were at the point of seeking IVF treatment.
"Only 30 per cent knew that smoking, alcohol, caffeine and weight had an impact on their potential fertility - even though this is well known in science circles - and of those, only 60 per cent had actually done anything to alter it,'' said Prof Chapman, head of women's and children's health at the University of NSW.
"Clearly we're not getting the message through.''
One in six Australian couples experience infertility, defined as trying to conceive unsuccessfully for a year.
Specialists blame delays in starting a family until the prospective parents are older and more prone to fertility difficulties.
Prof Chapman said extremely poor knowledge "is certainly not helping these figures''.
"I believe the problem is that there's a real 'not me' mentality out there,'' he said.
"Like smokers who believe they'll never get lung cancer, people just seem to keep drinking, smoking, doing what they do believing they can't be affected, but that's not true.''
Professor Rob Norman, director of the Research Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Adelaide, said poor knowledge was unsurprising given weak understanding of science in the general community.
"And there seems to be a feeling out there that IVF will solve everything regardless of your lifestyle so you can do what you want,'' Prof Norman said.
"The statistics show that's not the case.''
The study will be presented in Brisbane tomorrow.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24523443-29277,00.html