Perceived Infertility or Fertility Anxiety? Qualitative Insights from Young Adults Attending Reproductive Health Centers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prior studies have documented fertility concerns among adolescents and young adult women, but reasons for these perceptions have not been fully elucidated. We explored the origins and dimensions of fertility concerns in a sample of U.S. young adults assigned female sex at birth.

Methods

We conducted focus groups with participants aged 18-25 years recruited from reproductive health centers in Minnesota, United States, from 2021 to 2022. Eligible participants were assigned female sex at birth, had recent penile-vaginal sex, had never been pregnant, were not attempting pregnancy, and self-identified as having ever been worried about their fertility. Transcripts were analyzed qualitatively for themes regarding: (1) reasons for fertility concerns and (2) participants'

SUBMITTER: Martins SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12677282 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature