# Knowledge differences on the impact of age on fertility among fertile and subfertile women

## TL;DR

The study finds that Thai women, whether fertile or subfertile, have limited knowledge about how age affects fertility.

## Contribution

It reveals a significant knowledge gap about fertility age-related changes in Thai women.

## Key findings

- Most women correctly identified peak fertility age but poorly understood when fertility declines.
- Subfertile women had misconceptions about age's impact on infertility treatment success.
- Knowledge levels were similar between fertile and subfertile groups.

## Abstract

To explore the knowledge concerning the impact of age on fertility in Thai
women among fertile and subfertile women.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital,
Thailand. The questionnaires consisted of sociodemographic questions and
knowledge pertinent to the impact of age on fertility. Both fertile and
subfertile women completed the same questionnaire anonymously.

A total of 500 women were included in the study, with two hundred and fifty
in each group. The majority of women in both the fertile and subfertile
group correctly identified the most fertile age of women (84.8%
vs . 84.4%, p =0.902) and the impact
of age on infertility treatment (73.2% vs . 84.0%,
p =0.003). However, only one-fifth of the participants
in both groups correctly identified the age that their fertility starts to
decline, show a marked decline and ends. Most women in both groups chose the
answer that overestimates their fertility potential. Moreover, 10.8% of
subfertile women believed that fertility is not dependent on age and 16.0%
believed that age does not affect the success rate of infertility
treatment.

The overall knowledge of women regarding the impact of age on fertility is
relatively poor with no difference between fertile and subfertile women.
These findings may indicate an urgent need to increase this area of
knowledge in the population.