Private MD News

Many women overestimate their fertility, study finds

Category: Infertitlity Hormone Testing

FSH testing may help women gain a better understanding of their fertility and their likelihood of becoming pregnant, something that may be important given widespread misunderstanding regarding the chances of conceiving at an advanced age.

A recent poll conducted by the pharmaceutical company EDM Serono found that many women were unaware of the degree to which their fertility drops with age. For example, respondents said there is an 80 percent chance that a 30-year-old can become pregnant in one try, when the odds are actually closer to 30 percent.

"The results highlight the importance of the obstetrician/gynecologist for the patients, the role of the reproductive endocrinologist from patients’ perspective, and highlights opportunities to engage patients and their healthcare providers in a dialogue about reproductive health," wrote EMD's medical director Mary Mahony in the report.

The findings of the report indicate that these healthcare professionals have a long way to go in educating women about their fertility. Providing FSH testing to determine each individual's chances of conception may be a good place to start.