Methods of monitoring menstrual function in field studies: attitudes of working women

This study was designed to determine the attitudes and compliance of working women toward methods being evaluated for use in the assessment of the effects of toxicants on reproductive potential. Women such as the highly motivated fertility patients and nurses, who are typically familiar with the methods and procedures of fertility assessment and the value of medical research, have been used to validate such methods in a clinical setting. However, the attitudes of a general working female population toward these methods are unknown. Nine participants were selected on the bases, in part, of not seeking fertility assistance, working full-time but not in the medical field, and having less than one year of college education. Attitudes were also evaluated for 193 non-participating women to whom the procedures had been verbally described. Participants measured basal body temperature and salivary and vaginal mucous electrical resistance, evaluated cervical mucus manually (CME), and collected the first morning urine for two menstrual cycles. Blood, saliva, and transvaginal ultrasonograms (US) were obtained at a fertility clinic 6 to 9 days per cycle. Participants brought urine to the laboratory every 3 days. All participants performed all methods. Participants were paid $400; nonparticipants were not compensated. Only 3% of the respondents objected to the proposed methods: principally to CME, US, and giving blood samples. No respondent perceived the study as unimportant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)