Perceptions and Experiences With Healthcare Providers Among People Navigating Reproductive and Fertility Decisions

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Women's Health
• Healthcare Provider-Patient Communication

Background:

• Primary healthcare providers play a crucial role in reproductive health management.
• Assessing pregnancy intentions is key for providing contraception and preconception care.
• Understanding women's experiences with fertility discussions is vital for improving care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore women's perceptions and experiences of interactions with healthcare providers regarding fertility.
• To identify gaps in communication and care related to fertility discussions in primary healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 17 in-depth interviews and 17 focus groups.
• 65 women aged 18-35 years participated.
• Thematic and inductive coding methods were used to analyze transcripts.

Main Results:

• Women desire more comprehensive fertility information from healthcare providers.
• Participants reported experiences of having fertility concerns dismissed by providers.
• A lack of sensitivity in discussing fertility-related issues was a common theme, even for women not actively trying to conceive.

Conclusions:

• Primary healthcare providers should enhance the provision of fertility information.
• Providers need to engage with patients as individuals with diverse fertility needs and future plans.
• Addressing fertility concerns is important for all women, irrespective of their immediate pregnancy intentions.