Evaluation of Women's Awareness and Knowledge of Planned Oocyte Cryopreservation at Different Sociocultural Levels: A Cross-Sectional Survey

TL;DR

This study surveyed Turkish women's awareness and knowledge of planned oocyte cryopreservation, finding that education level and relationship status significantly influence their interest and understanding.

Contribution

The study provides novel insights into sociocultural factors affecting awareness of oocyte cryopreservation in Turkey.

Findings

50.7% of women indicated intent to undergo planned oocyte cryopreservation, with university graduates more likely to consider it.

Participants who considered oocyte cryopreservation answered more questions about fertility and cryopreservation correctly.

Most women believed information about age-related fertility decline should be part of annual gynecological exams.

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated awareness and knowledge of planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC) among Turkish women across diverse sociocultural backgrounds.

Design: This is a cross-sectional survey with a 56-item self-administered electronic questionnaire.

Setting: Istanbul, Turkiye, June to September 2022.

Population: The study evaluated 915 participants between 21 and 45 years.

Methods: Women completed a 56-item self-administered online electronic questionnaire survey to identify their demographic information, perspective on family planning, future fertility expectations/plans, oocyte freezing, and degree of knowledge.

Main Outcome Measures: Comparison of participants considering and not considering POC.

Results: A total of 464 (50.7%) women indicated an intent to undergo POC in the future, with statistically significantly higher university graduates in the group clearly considering POC (p=0.044) and a higher rate of singles indicating an intent to POC. A total of 546 (59.7%) women planned to have children in the future; the participants considered the age of 39.37 (±5.01) as “old” for pregnancy; 748 (81.7%) of the participants thought that the information about age-related fertility decline and POC should be a part of the annual gynecological examination. The level of knowledge about family planning/postponing fertility and POC between the two groups showed that the group considering POC provided significantly more accurate responses to seven items (5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 14th, and 17th questions). The group not considering POC answered correctly, “What is the rate of spontaneous female conception?” (p=0.047).

Conclusion: The target population expected to benefit from POC in our country had low knowledge and awareness of age-related fertility decline and POC. Most women expected the information to be a part of the annual gynecological examination. The main determinants of the knowledge score and considering POC are education level and relationship status.