Business case for psychosocial interventions in clinics: potential for decrease in treatment discontinuation and costs.

Research Question: From a value-based healthcare (VBHC) perspective, does an assessment of clinical outcomes and intervention costs indicate that providing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mindfulness to women seeking fertility treatment add value compared with no such intervention?

Design: Proof-of-concept business case based on a VBHC perspective that considers clinical outcomes and costs. Potential effects on psychological and fertility outcomes were based on existing research. Cost outcomes were estimated with a costing model for the Dutch fertility treatment setting.

Young adult's views on using a poster to learn about fertility: redesigning the fertility education poster.

Fertility awareness should be taught to everyone. The International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (IRHEC) designed a fertility poster in 2019 but did not have a specific target group in mind. Studies have been conducted in Denmark and Sweden to determine how the poster can be redesigned.

Parenthood intentions of 16-18-year-olds in England: a survey of school students.

There is a need to understand teenagers' views towards having children to better tailor sexuality and reproductive health education. We conducted a survey of parenthood intentions for 16-18-year-old students. The survey was anonymous, contained open-ended and multiple-choice questions and was live from 10 May 2021 to 18 July 2022.

Experiences of users of period tracking apps: which app, frequency of use, data input and output and attitudes.

Research Question: What are the experiences of users of period tracking apps in relation to which apps they use, their frequency of use, the type of data and their attitudes to period tracking apps?

Design: This was an observational mixed-methods study using an online survey designed using Qualtrics XM. The survey included 50 open-ended and multiple choice questions, but only specific questions were analysed in this study. The survey was promoted via social media for 22 days between 30 June and 21 July 2021.

How do women feel cold water swimming affects their menstrual and perimenopausal symptoms?

Objective: This study aimed to determine how women felt cold water swimming affected their menstrual and perimenopausal symptoms.

Study Design: An online survey that asked women who regularly swim in cold water about their experiences. The survey was advertised for 2 months on social media.

Perimenopausal women's voices: How does their period at the end of reproductive life affect wellbeing?

Objective: To explore perimenopausal women's feelings towards their periods, the impact on their wellbeing and how we can support them.

Study Design: Participants were recruited for focus groups through social media advertisements. In 6 online focus groups, 31 perimenopausal women aged 40-55 living in the UK were asked 5 questions relating to periods and perimenopause, support and education.

Women's knowledge and attitudes to the menopause: a comparison of women over 40 who were in the perimenopause, post menopause and those not in the peri or post menopause.

Objectives: To evaluate women's knowledge and attitudes towards the menopause by comparing three groups of women: perimenopause, post menopause and those women not in either the peri or post menopause (other).

Methods: A 35 question online survey was advertised on social media to evaluate women's attitudes and knowledge of the menopause. Three groups of women were compared: perimenopause, post menopause and those women not in either the peri or post menopause (other).

An online survey of postmenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause.

Objective: To explore postmenopausal women's attitudes and knowledge of the menopause.

Study Design: An online survey to evaluate women's attitudes and knowledge of the menopause, promoted via social media. In this study, only the data from 829 women who identified as postmenopausal were analysed.

Menopause knowledge and education in women under 40: Results from an online survey.

Background: All women experience the menopause, yet education around the topic is limited. Studies conducted in women aged over 40 show that women have limited knowledge about the menopause.

Objectives: This study aims to understand what women under 40 know about the menopause, how they have acquired this knowledge and where they think menopause education should be taught.

An online survey of UK women's attitudes to having children, the age they want children and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Question: What are women's views on having children, including the age they want to have them and other influences such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic?

Summary Answer: Women's views on having children, at their preferred age of 30 years, included their maternal urge and concerns about their biological clock and stability, while 19% said COVID-19 had affected their views.

What Is Known Already: Women globally are delaying the birth of their first child, with the average age of first birth approaching 32 years in some countries. The average age women have their first child in the UK is 30.

An online survey of perimenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause.

Introduction: Women are not usually taught about the menopause formally, and many general practitioners have relatively little training. The aim of this study was to explore perimenopausal women's attitudes and knowledge of the menopause.

Method: An online survey was designed to evaluate attitudes and knowledge of the menopause in women older than 40 years.

Passion, pressure and pragmatism: how fertility clinic medical directors view IVF add-ons.

Research Question: What are the views of the medical directors of fertility clinics on IVF add-ons?

Design: A total of 93 UK clinics were emailed with an invitation for their medical director to participate. Ten IVF clinic medical directors were interviewed to discuss their views on the use of IVF add-ons. Some of the interviewees were medical directors of an IVF clinic with multiple branches across the UK, meaning the total number of clinics accounted for in this study was 35 out of the 93 contacted.

A survey of women's experiences of using period tracker applications: Attitudes, ovulation prediction and how the accuracy of the app in predicting period start dates affects their feelings and behaviours.

Introduction: Using an online survey, the aim of this study was to ask women about their real-life experiences of using period tracker apps, their attitudes towards using their app, the information the app provided regarding ovulation and how the accuracy of the app in predicting period start dates affects their feelings and behaviours if their period comes earlier or later than predicted.

Methods: This mixed-methods observational study was conducted by an online survey of 50 multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The survey was generated with Qualtrics XM and promoted via social media.

Period tracker applications: What menstrual cycle information are they giving women?

Background: Period tracking applications (apps) allow women to track their menstrual cycles and receive a prediction for their period dates. The majority of apps also provide predictions of ovulation day and the fertile window. Research indicates apps are basing predictions on assuming women undergo a textbook 28-day cycle with ovulation occurring on day 14 and a fertile window between days 10 and 16.

Telling donor-conceived children about their conception: Evaluation of the use of the Donor Conception Network children's books.

If parents have used donated gametes, it is a personal choice whether they disclose to their children. For those that do, there is, however, little advice on how to tell their children. The Donor Conception Network (DCN) has made a series of books to help parents disclose.

Analysis of fertility clinic marketing of complementary therapy add-ons.

Complementary therapies are often used during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The aim of this study was to determine how UK fertility clinic websites are advertising complementary therapy add-ons. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's (HFEA) 'Choose a Fertility Clinic' website was used to identify fertility clinics and their websites.

The use of expanded carrier screening of gamete donors.

Study Question: What are the sperm and egg donor rejection rates after expanded carrier screening (ECS)?

Summary Answer: Using an ECS panel looking at 46/47 genes, 17.6% of donors were rejected.

What Is Known Already: The use of ECS is becoming commonplace in assisted reproductive technology, including testing of egg and sperm donors.

Childless by circumstance - Using an online survey to explore the experiences of childless women who had wanted children.

Childlessness is increasing globally. This study aimed to explore the experiences of childless women who had wanted children. An online survey study was promoted through social media to recruit women aged ≥46 years who were childless by circumstance.

Do fertility tracking applications offer women useful information about their fertile window?

Research Question: To characterize mobile fertility tracking applications (apps) to determine the use of such apps for women trying to conceive by identifying the fertile window.

Design: An exploratory cross-sectional audit study was conducted of fertility tracking applications. Ninety out of a possible total 200 apps were included for full review.

Are we ready for genome editing in human embryos for clinical purposes?

Perhaps the two most significant pioneering biomedical discoveries with immediate clinical implications during the past forty years have been the advent of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and the genetics revolution. ART, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection and preimplantation genetic testing, has resulted in the birth of more than 8 million children, and the pioneer of IVF, Professor Bob Edwards, was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize. The genetics revolution has resulted in our genomes being sequenced and many of the molecular mechanisms understood, and technologies for genomic editing have been developed.

Feasibility and acceptability of theatrical and visual art to deliver fertility education to young adults.

The Fertility Education Initiative was established in 2016 to provide education on fertility, modern families and reproductive science for young adults, teachers, health professionals, parents and adults. We report on our study to determine the feasibility and acceptability of using the arts to delivery fertility education in schools. The evaluation was mixed methods: (i) two focus groups with young people aged 14-16 and 16-18 were conducted to investigate attitudes to fertility awareness; and (ii) seventeen 16-22 year olds were divided into two groups and each undertook a day of art workshops that consisted of two visual and two theatrical workshops and then completed questionnaires at the end of each workshop and at the end of the day.

Preimplantation genetic screening.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis was first successfully performed in 1989 as an alternative to prenatal diagnosis for couples at risk of transmitting a genetic or chromosomal abnormality, such as cystic fibrosis, to their child. From embryos generated in vitro, biopsied cells are genetically tested. From the mid-1990s, this technology has been employed as an embryo selection tool for patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation, screening as many chromosomes as possible, in the hope that selecting chromosomally normal embryos will lead to higher implantation and decreased miscarriage rates.

The end of donor anonymity: how genetic testing is likely to drive anonymous gamete donation out of business.

Thousands of people worldwide have been conceived using donor gametes, but not all parents tell their children of their origin. Several countries now allow donor-conceived offspring to potentially know their genetic parent if they are informed of their donor-conceived status. At the same time, personal genetic testing is a rapidly expanding field.

Oocyte cryopreservation: where are we now?

Introduction: Since the first live birth from oocyte cryopreservation three decades ago, oocyte cryopreservation has become an important component of ART. Cryopreservation techniques have evolved, leading to higher success rates and the introduction of oocyte cryopreservation into IVF clinics worldwide. Concurrently, there has been an increase in patient demand, especially for so-called 'social egg freezing' that allows women to preserve their fertility in anticipation of age-related fertility decline.