Predictors of Fertility-Awareness-Based Method Use Among Women Trying to Conceive and Women Contemplating Pregnancy.
Melissa Pérez Capotosto, Christopher S Lee, Corrine Y Jurgens and 4 others
PMID 37625177WHAT IT FOUND
Women trying to conceive used more fertility-awareness methods than those just contemplating pregnancy.
Duration of trying and past pregnancies predicted method use, not age or health conditions. Ask patients how long they have been trying and what they are tracking.
Key findings
01Women actively trying to conceive used an average of 1.84 fertility-awareness methods, compared to 0.75 for those contemplating pregnancy.
02For women trying to conceive, the duration of the pregnancy attempt was the only factor associated with the number of methods used, with longer attempts linked to more method use.
03Age, marital status, and medical conditions like PCOS or endometriosis were not significant predictors of fertility-awareness method use among women actively trying to conceive.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study population consisted exclusively of nurses, who may have higher health literacy and different schedules than the general population, potentially affecting how they use fertility-awareness methods. The sample was predominantly non-Hispanic White (88.1%) and highly educated, limiting generalizability to other racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. The data relied on self-reported use of methods without verifying how accurately participants implemented or interpreted them, which could affect the actual efficacy of the methods used. The study did not assess how fertility-awareness method use changed over time within individuals, only comparing different women at a single point in time.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that age or specific medical conditions like PCOS predict whether a patient is using fertility-awareness methods. The study found that only the duration of the pregnancy attempt and past pregnancies were significant predictors for women actively trying to conceive.