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The Fertility Management Experiences of Australian Women with a Non-communicable Chronic Disease: Findings from the Understanding Fertility Management in Contemporary Australia Survey

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Abstract

Introduction Despite the considerable and increasing proportion of women of reproductive age with a chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) and the potential adverse implications of many NCDs for childbearing, little is known about the fertility management experiences of women with an NCD, including their contraceptive use, pregnancy experiences and outcomes, and reproductive health care utilisation. The aim of this study was to investigate the fertility management experiences of women with an NCD and draw comparisons with women without an NCD. Method A sample of 18–50 year-old women (n = 1543) was randomly recruited from the Australian electoral roll in 2013. Of these women, 172 women reported a physical, chronic non-communicable disease: diabetes, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, heart disease, thyroid disorders, and cystic fibrosis. Respondents completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. Factors associated with fertility management were identified in multivariable analyses. Results Women who reported having an NCD were significantly more likely than women who did not report an NCD to have ever been pregnant (75.9 vs. 67.5%, p = 0.034), have had an unintended pregnancy (33.47 vs. 25.5%, p = 0.026), and have had an abortion (20.3 vs. 14.2%, p = 0.044); they were less likely to consult a healthcare provider about fertility management (45.0 vs. 54.4%, p = 0.024). Similar proportions were using contraception (48.8 vs. 54.5%, p = 0.138). Conclusion The findings have implications for healthcare providers and women with an NCD and highlight the importance of addressing possible assumptions about the inability of women with an NCD to become pregnant, and ensuring women receive information about suitable methods of contraception and pre-pregnancy care.

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Acknowledgements

The researchers are grateful to Dr Karen Wynter for assistance with data management and Dr Thach Tran for statistical advice, and thank all respondents for their generous participation.

Funding

This research was supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant (LP100200432) with funding and in-kind contributions from Family Planning Victoria, Melbourne IVF, The Royal Women’s Hospital, and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. JF is supported by a Monash Professorial Fellowship and the Jean Hailes Professorial Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jean Hailes Research Unit, Monash University, Level 4/553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Sara Holton, Aberaami Thananjeyan, Heather Rowe, Maggie Kirkman & Jane Fisher

  2. Family Planning Victoria, 901 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, VIC, 3128, Australia

    Lynne Jordan & Kathleen McNamee

  3. The Royal Women’s Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia

    Christine Bayly

  4. Melbourne IVF, 344 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia

    John McBain

  5. Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia

    Vikki Sinnott

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  1. Sara Holton
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Correspondence to Sara Holton.

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Holton, S., Thananjeyan, A., Rowe, H. et al. The Fertility Management Experiences of Australian Women with a Non-communicable Chronic Disease: Findings from the Understanding Fertility Management in Contemporary Australia Survey. Matern Child Health J 22, 830–840 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2454-9

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