Systemic Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Sexually and Gender Diverse Populations.

Fertility preservation is the process of collecting and storing oocytes, sperm, or reproductive tissue so that a person may retain their ability to have biologically related children. In instances of infertility caused by medical intervention or an underlying medical condition, this procedure is often sought by affected patient populations. U.S. Title 21 regulations have produced disparities in access, disproportionately restricting services for sexually and gender diverse subpopulations capable of producing sperm. This article examines policies contributing to these disparities, explores how these policies may translate to real-world health care delivery, and proposes policy changes that would increase equitable access to care.

Single mothers by choice - experiences of single women seeking treatment at a public fertility clinic in Denmark: A pilot study.

PROBLEM: There has been an increase in the number of single women deciding to have children through the use of medically assisted reproduction (MAR). These women are referred to as 'single mothers by choice' (SMC). BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown how SMC can feel stigmatised. AIM: Explore if single women seeking fertility treatment in Denmark feel stigmatised. METHODS: Six single women undergoing MAR at a public fertility clinic in Denmark were interviewed. The interviews were audiotaped, anonymised, and transcribed in full, after provided written consent by the participants to take part in the study. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: The women would have preferred to have a child in a relationship with a partner. Despite their dream of the nuclear family meaning a family group consisting of two parents and their children (one or more), the women choose to become SMC because motherhood was of such importance, and they feared they would otherwise become too old to have children. The participants did not experience stigma or negative responses to their decision, but they all had an awareness of the prejudices other people might have towards SMC. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the understanding of the experiences of single women seeking fertility treatment in a welfare state where there are no differences in the possibilities for different social classes to seek MAR.

Declining global fertility rates and the implications for family planning and family building: an IFFS consensus document based on a narrative review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Family-planning policies have focused on contraceptive approaches to avoid unintended pregnancies, postpone, or terminate pregnancies and mitigate population growth. These policies have contributed to significantly slowing world population growth. Presently, half the countries worldwide exhibit a fertility rate below replacement level. Not including the effects of migration, many countries are predicted to have a population decline of >50% from 2017 to 2100, causing demographic changes with profound societal implications. Policies that optimize chances to have a child when desired increase fertility rates and are gaining interest as a family-building method. Increasingly, countries have implemented child-friendly policies (mainly financial incentives in addition to public funding of fertility treatment in a limited number of countries) to mitigate decreasing national populations. However, the extent of public spending on child benefits varies greatly from country to country. To our knowledge, this International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) consensus document represents the first attempt to describe major disparities in access to fertility care in the context of the global trend of decreasing growth in the world population, based on a narrative review of the existing literature. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The concept of family building, the process by which individuals or couples create or expand their families, has been largely ignored in family-planning paradigms. Family building encompasses various methods and options for individuals or couples who wish to have children. It can involve biological means, such as natural conception, as well as ART, surrogacy, adoption, and foster care. Family-building acknowledges the diverse ways in which individuals or couples can create their desired family and reflects the understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a family. Developing education programs for young adults to increase family-building awareness and prevent infertility is urgently needed. Recommendations are provided and important knowledge gaps identified to provide professionals, the public, and policymakers with a comprehensive understanding of the role of child-friendly policies. SEARCH METHODS: A narrative review of the existing literature was performed by invited global leaders who themselves significantly contributed to this research field. Each section of the review was prepared by two to three experts, each of whom searched the published literature (PubMed) for peer reviewed full papers and reviews. Sections were discussed monthly by all authors and quarterly by the review board. The final document was prepared following discussions among all team members during a hybrid invitational meeting where full consensus was reached. OUTCOMES: Major advances in fertility care have dramatically improved family-building opportunities since the 1990s. Although up to 10% of all children are born as a result of fertility care in some wealthy countries, there is great variation in access to care. The high cost to patients of infertility treatment renders it unaffordable for most. Preliminary studies point to the increasing contribution of fertility care to the global population and the associated economic benefits for society. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: Fertility care has rarely been discussed in the context of a rapid decrease in world population growth. Soon, most countries will have an average number of children per woman far below the replacement level. While this may have a beneficial impact on the environment, underpopulation is of great concern in many countries. Although governments have implemented child-friendly policies, distinct discrepancies in access to fertility care remain.

Characterizing attitudes related to future child-bearing in young women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: This study characterizes attitudes and decision-making around the desire for future children in young women newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and assesses how clinical factors and perceived risk may impact these attitudes. METHODS: This is a prospective study in women < 45 years with newly diagnosed stage 1-3 breast cancer. Patients completed a REDCap survey on fertility and family-building in the setting of hypothetical risk scenarios. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were collected through surveys and medical record. RESULTS: Of 140 study patients [median age = 41.4 (range 23-45)], 71 (50.7%) were interested in having children. Women interested in future childbearing were younger than those who were not interested (mean = 35.2 [SD = 5.2] vs 40.9 years [3.90], respectively, p < 0.001), and more likely to be childless (81% vs 31%, p < 0.001). 54 women (77.1% of patients interested in future children) underwent/planned to undergo oocyte/embryo cryopreservation before chemotherapy. Interest in future childbearing decreased with increasing hypothetical recurrence risk, however 17% of patients wanted to have children despite a 75-100% hypothetical recurrence risk. 24.3% of patients wanted to conceive < 2 years from diagnosis, and 35% of patients with hormone receptor positive tumors were not willing to complete 5 years of hormone therapy. CONCLUSION: Many young women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer prioritize childbearing. Interest in having a biologic child was not associated with standard prognostic risk factors. Interest decreased with increasing hypothetical recurrence risk, though some patients remained committed to future childbearing despite near certain hypothetical risk. Individual risk assessment should be included in family-planning discussions throughout the continuum of care as it can influence decision-making.

Family building and pregnancy experiences of cisgender sexual minority women.

BACKGROUND: Although 10% to 20% of cisgender women aged 18 to 40 years have a sexual minority identity (eg, bisexual, lesbian, and queer), there is limited research on the family building and pregnancy experiences of sexual minority cisgender women. Improving our understanding of the family building and pregnancy experiences of cisgender sexual minority women is critical for improving the perinatal health of this population. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the mode of family building, past pregnancy experiences, and future pregnancy intentions among cisgender sexual minority women by sexual orientation. STUDY DESIGN: This is an observational study which was conducted using cross-sectional data collected in 2019 from a national sample of 1369 cisgender sexual minority women aged 18 to 45 years. RESULTS: Most participants (n=794, 58%) endorsed multiple sexual orientations, most commonly queer (n=641, 47%), lesbian (n=640, 47%), and/or bisexual (n=583, 43%). There were 243 (18%) cisgender sexual minority women who were parents. Pregnancy was used by 74% (181/243) of women to build their families. Among participants who used pregnancy, 60% (108/181) became pregnant through sexual activity with another parent of the child, whereas 27% (64/243) of women used donor sperm. An additional 10% (n=24) became parents through second-parent adoption, 10% (n=25) through adoption, and 14% (n=35) through step-parenting. Bisexual women more often used sexual activity to become parents (61/100, 61%) compared with queer (40/89, 45%) and lesbian women (40/130, 31%). In contrast, lesbian (50/130, 39%) and queer (25/89, 27%) women more often used donor sperm to become parents compared with bisexual women (11/100, 11%). Among the 266 (19%) cisgender sexual minority women who had ever been pregnant, there were 545 pregnancies (mean, 2.05 pregnancies per woman). Among those pregnancies, 59% (n=327) resulted in live birth, 23% (n=126) resulted in miscarriage, 15% (n=83) resulted in abortion, and 2% (n=9) resulted in ectopic pregnancy. A quarter of women had future pregnancy intentions, with no differences by sexual orientation. Overall, few participants (16%) reported that all of their healthcare providers were aware of their sexual orientation. CONCLUSION: Cisgender sexual minority women primarily built their families through pregnancy and a quarter have future pregnancy desires. In addition, there were important differences in family building methods used by sexual orientation. Providers should be aware of the pregnancy and family-building patterns, plans, and needs of cisgender sexual minority women.

Building a family at advanced parental age: a systematic review on the risks and opportunities for parents and their offspring.

STUDY QUESTION: What is the existing empirical literature on the psychosocial health and wellbeing of the parents and offspring born at an advanced parental age (APA), defined as 40 years onwards? SUMMARY ANSWER: Although the studies show discrepancies in defining who is an APA parent and an imbalance in the empirical evidence for offspring, mothers, and fathers, there is a drive towards finding psychotic disorders and (neuro-)developmental disorders among the offspring; overall, the observed advantages and disadvantages are difficult to compare. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: In many societies, children are born to parents at advanced ages and there is rising attention in the literature towards the consequences of this trend. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: The systematic search was conducted in six electronic databases (PubMed including Medline, Embase, Scopus, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and SocINDEX) and was limited to papers published between 2000 and 2021 and to English-language articles. Search terms used across all six electronic databases were: ('advanced parental age' OR 'advanced maternal age' OR 'advanced paternal age' OR 'advanced reproductive age' OR 'late parent*' OR 'late motherhood' OR 'late fatherhood') AND ('IVF' OR 'in vitro fertilization' OR 'in-vitro-fertilization' OR 'fertilization in vitro' OR 'ICSI' OR 'intracytoplasmic sperm injection' OR 'reproductive techn*' OR 'assisted reproductive technolog*' OR 'assisted reproduction' OR 'assisted conception' OR 'reproduction' OR 'conception' OR 'birth*' OR 'pregnan*') AND ('wellbeing' OR 'well-being' OR 'psycho-social' OR 'social' OR 'ethical' OR 'right to reproduce' OR 'justice' OR 'family functioning' OR 'parental competenc*' OR 'ageism' OR 'reproductive autonomy' OR 'outcome' OR 'risk*' OR 'benefit*'). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: The included papers were empirical studies in English published between 2000 and 2021, where the study either examined the wellbeing and psychosocial health of parents and/or their children, or focused on parental competences of APA parents or on the functioning of families with APA parents. A quality assessment of the identified studies was performed with the QATSDD tool. Additionally, 20% of studies were double-checked at the data extraction and quality assessment stage to avoid bias. The variables sought were: the geographical location, the year of publication, the methodological approach, the definitions of APA used, what study group was at the centre of the research, what research topic was studied, and what advantages and disadvantages of APA were found. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A total number of 5403 articles were identified, leading to 2543 articles being included for title and abstract screening after removal of duplicates. This resulted in 98 articles included for a full-text reading by four researchers. Ultimately, 69 studies were included in the final sample. The key results concerned four aspects relevant to the research goals. (i) The studies showed discrepancies in defining who is an APA parent. (ii) There was an imbalance in the empirical evidence produced for different participant groups (mothers, fathers, and offspring), with offspring being the most studied study subjects. (iii) The research topics studied underlined the increased risks of neuro-developmental and psychotic disorders among offspring. (iv) The observed advantages and disadvantages were varied and could not be compared, especially for the offspring of APA parents. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: Only English-language studies, published between 2000 and 2021, found in the above-mentioned databases were considered for this review. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: More research is necessary to understand the risks and benefits of building a family at an APA for the offspring when they reach adulthood. Furthermore, studies that explore the perspective of older fathers and older parents from non-Western societies would be highly informative. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: The writing of this manuscript was permitted by financial support provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Weave/Lead Agency funding program, grant number 10001AL_197415/1, project title 'Family Building at Advanced Parental Age: An Interdisciplinary Approach'). The funder had no role in the drafting of this manuscript and the views expressed therein are those of the authors. The authors have no conflicts of interest. REGISTRATION NUMBER: This systematic review is registered in Prospero: CRD42022304564.

Expectations for family building, assisted reproduction, and adoption among lesbians in the National Survey of Family Growth, 2017-2019.

Objective: To characterize the family-building goals and experiences of lesbians compared with those of heterosexual females in the United States. Design: Secondary analysis of nationally representative, cross-sectional survey data. Setting: National Survey of Family Growth 2017-2019. Patients: 159 reproductive-age lesbian respondents and 5,127 reproductive-age heterosexual respondents. Interventions: We characterized family-building goals and the use of assisted reproduction and adoption among lesbians using nationally representative female respondent data from the 2017-2019 National Survey of Family Growth. We performed bivariate analyses examining variations in these outcomes between lesbian and heterosexual individuals. Main Outcome Measures: Wantedness of children, use of assisted reproductive technology, and pursuit of adoption among reproductive-age lesbian and heterosexual participants. Results: We identified 159 reproductive-age lesbian respondents of the National Survey of Family Growth, representing 2.3% or approximately 1.75 million US individuals of reproductive age. The lesbian respondents were younger, less religious, and less likely to have children than heterosexual respondents. These groups did not differ significantly by race/ethnicity, education, or income. More than half of the individuals reported wanting a child in the future, with proportions similar between the lesbian and heterosexual individuals (48% vs. 51%, respectively; P = .52). Accordingly, 18% of both the lesbian and heterosexual individuals reported that they would be greatly bothered if they were unable to have children. Nevertheless, health care providers reportedly asked the lesbians about their desire to get pregnant less frequently than they asked the heterosexual individuals (21% vs. 32%, respectively; P = .04). Only 26% of the lesbians had ever been pregnant compared with 64% of the heterosexual individuals (P<.01). Approximately one third (31%) of lesbians with medical insurance were seeking reproductive services compared with 10% of heterosexual individuals (P = .05). Lesbians were significantly more likely to be seeking adoption than heterosexual individuals (7.0% vs. 1.3%, respectively; P = .01), although they were more likely to report being turned down (17% vs. 10%, respectively; P = .03), not knowing why they were unable to adopt (19% vs. 1%, respectively; P = .02), and quitting because of the adoption process (100% vs. 45%, respectively; P = .04). Conclusions: Approximately half of US females of reproductive age desire to have a child, a proportion that is not different between lesbian and heterosexual individuals. However, fewer lesbians are asked about their desires to get pregnant, and fewer ever become pregnant. Lesbians are significantly more likely to pursue assisted reproductive services when covered by insurance and more likely to seek adoption. Unfortunately, lesbians are more likely to face challenges with adoption.

Reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialists' knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes regarding the care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals.

Objective: To investigate associations between reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) providers' prior training and current knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors regarding fertility preservation and family building for transgender and gender-diverse (T/GD) patients. Design: The survey was distributed to members of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the REI-physician-focused professional body within the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, with additional participants recruited through snowball sampling. Results: Participants (n = 206) reported on training in T/GD care; 51% endorsed prior training. Most participants (93%) believed T/GD individuals were as fit for parenthood as cisgender individuals. Prior training was associated with an increased likelihood of offering T/GD health resources and more frequent consultations with specialist colleagues.Common barriers to providing care indicated by respondents included cost, delays in gender-affirming care, and lack of knowledge of the potential impact of hormonal interventions. Common facilitators included education and training, prior experience, and affordability of services. Conclusions: Most REI providers believed T/GD individuals are fit for parenthood and agreed that prior training facilitates care for T/GD patients. The lack of provider knowledge emerged as a barrier to care. Although training helped facilitate some components of care, systemic barriers such as the cost and variability of patient population characteristics/experiences are important considerations when serving T/GD individuals.

Success in Accessing Fertility Preservation Appointments for Egg-Producing Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients: A Mystery Caller Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate access to fertility preservation appointments for egg-producing transgender and gender-diverse patients. Methods: Fertility clinics nationwide were identified through the 2018 National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System dataset of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using a mystery caller approach with a standardized, community-developed script, three researchers called 456 clinics between July and December 2020 identifying themselves as a transgender man seeking oocyte cryopreservation. Information was collected regarding access to fertility preservation for the caller. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to compare call outcomes by geographic region and clinic demographics. Results: Of 369 clinics included in the final analysis, 90.2% of clinics offered an initial appointment. A clinic that offered an appointment was four times more likely to be located on the West Coast (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-12.7; p = 0.014). Notably, endorsement of prior experience caring for transgender patients was most strongly associated with an appointment being offered (odds ratio = 7.31; 95% CI: 3.44-15.5; p < 0.001). Themes across some calls included a lack of knowledge about transgender identities and care models (e.g., requiring a letter of support) leading to additional steps (e.g., having to explain anatomy or being transferred to another staff member) before accessing an appointment. Conclusion: The majority of clinics offered an initial appointment to a caller identifying as a transgender man seeking oocyte cryopreservation, suggesting access to an initial appointment is not a major barrier.

What does family building mean? A qualitative exploration and a new definition: a UK-based study.

BACKGROUND: The importance of improving men's and women's knowledge of sexual and reproductive health has been emphasised in numerous global health policies. Fertility awareness literature highlights a disproportionately higher number of articles related to pregnancy-prevention compared to pregnancy-planning, which is justifiable in many contexts. However, recent concerted effort to improve fertility-awareness warrants a closer investigation of basic reproductive health terminologies. The objective of this study is to explore participants' views of "family building" and provide a definition. METHODS: We conducted 35 qualitative in-depth interviews on men, women and healthcare professionals who were sampled from a UK cross-sectional survey. We asked participants about terms such as 'family planning' and 'family building' to elicit views and explored the appropriateness of the term "family building." Data were transcribed and analysed via Framework analysis. RESULTS: When asked what 'family planning' meant to them, study participants stated that the term meant the avoidance of pregnancy. They viewed it as an "umbrella term for the use of contraception methods," that "paradoxically, the term family planning almost has a negative connotation regarding having a family," but could not state similar terminology for planning a family. Reasons cited for this perspective include the focus of school education and usage in clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of an explicit definition in literature, we generated a new definition for family building as follows: "Family building refers to the construction or formation of a family, which can include steps or actions taken by an individual towards having children. In contrast to family planning, the intent focuses on pregnancy planning and childbearing rather than pregnancy prevention. However, it can also include actions taken to space the number of children one has." Some balance in the global public health messages, including bridging the gap in reproductive health literature, policies, processes and practices may contribute to the effort to improve fertility knowledge. Use of appropriate terminologies help optimise reproductive health services in order to enable men and women achieve their desired fertility intentions, whatever they may be. Trial registration Not applicable.

Global health policies have emphasised the importance of improving individual's knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. Fertility awareness literature highlights a disproportionately higher number of articles related to pregnancy-prevention compared to pregnancy-planning, which is justifiable in many contexts. However, the recent concerted effort to improve fertility awareness warrants a closer investigation of basic terminologies in the field. For example, although the term family planning encompasses attaining the desired number of children and spacing pregnancies, it is almost synonymous with not having children, while there is currently no widely accepted equivalent terminology for planning to have children, either in general usage or clinical settings. We conducted 35 qualitative in-depth interviews on men, women and healthcare professionals who were sampled from a UK cross-sectional survey. When asked what 'family planning' meant to them, study participants stated avoidance of pregnancy. They viewed it as an "umbrella term for the use of contraception methods", that "paradoxically, the term family planning almost has a negative connotation regarding having a family," but could not state similar terminology for planning a family. We introduced family building and provided a new definition. We believe that some balance in the global public health messages, including revisiting widely used terminologies can help bridge the gap in reproductive health literature, and contribute to the effort to improve fertility knowledge. Additionally, this has implications for promotion of preconception and optimising reproductive health in relevant policies, processes and practices, in order to help people achieve their desired fertility intentions, whatever they may be.

Fertility preservation in transgender men and the need for uniform, comprehensive counseling.

Objective: To review the literature to assess best practices for counseling transgender men who desire gender-affirming surgery on fertility preservation options. Design: A scoping review of articles published through July 2021. Setting: None. Patients: Articles published in Cochrane, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, SCOPUS, and Psychinfo. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Papers discussing transgender men, fertility preservation (FP), and FP counseling. Results: The primary search yielded 1,067 publications. After assessing eligibility and evaluating with a quality assessment tool, 25 articles remained, including 8 reviews, 5 surveys, 4 consensus studies, 3 retrospective studies, 3 committee opinions, and 2 guidelines. Publications highlighted the importance of including the following topics during counseling: (1) FP and family building options; (2) FP outcomes; (3) effects of testosterone therapy on fertility; (4) contraception counseling; (5) attitudes toward family building; (6) consequences of transgender parenting; and (7) barriers to success. Conclusions: Currently, there is a lack of standardization for comprehensive counseling about FP for transgender men. Standardized approaches can facilitate conversation between physicians and transgender men and ensure patients are making informed decisions regarding pelvic surgery and future family building plans.

Family Building Perspectives of Assigned Female at Birth Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents Seeking Testosterone Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the future family building desires of assigned female at birth (AFAB) transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents initiating hormone therapy, and to characterize the individuals interested in adoption. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of AFAB TGD adolescents ages 15-17 years old initiating testosterone gender-affirming hormone therapy between 2010 and 2019, analyzing interest in adoption, demographics, and gender-affirming care. Results: Of 195 AFAB TGD adolescents asked about family planning goals, 58% (n = 113) indicated desire for adoption in their future, and 13.3% (n = 26) had no desire for children. There was no difference between those who did and did not want to adopt in terms of age at time of first visit (p = 0.22), or race distribution (p = 0.45); however, straight-identified patients were more likely to desire adoption (p = 0.02) than people with other sexual orientations. Fifty-nine percent (n = 110) of those who did not have a history of adoption and/or experience with the child welfare system desired adoption, compared with 22% (n = 2) of those with a history (odds ratio, 5.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-25.39; p = 0.05). Conclusion: Some AFAB TGD adolescents endorse adoption as their desired pathway to parenthood. Clinicians should be sensitive to the complexities of parenthood desires of AFAB TGD patients and have resources to direct patients to more information. Further research is needed to better understand why many AFAB TGD adolescents desire adoption, how this changes with age, and the barriers they face in achieving their goals.

Sexual and/or gender minority parental structures among California births from 2016 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Sexual and/or gender minority people account for roughly 7.1% of the US population, and an estimated one-third are parents. Little is known about sexual and/or gender minority people who become pregnant, despite this population having documented healthcare disparities that may affect pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to describe parental structures among birth parents and the prepregnancy characteristics of parents giving birth in likely sexual and/or gender minority parental structures from California birth certificates. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based study using birth certificate data from all live births in California from 2016 through 2020 (n=2,257,974). The state amended its birth certificate in 2016 to enable the recording of more diverse parental roles. Now, parents on birth certificates are classified as "parent giving birth" and "parent not giving birth" and people in either role can identify as "mother," "father," or "parent." We examined all potential combinations of parenting roles, and grouped parental structures of "mother-mother" and those designating a "father" as the "parent giving birth" into likely sexual and/or gender minority groups. We assessed the distribution of prepregnancy characteristics across parental structure groups ("mother-father," "sexual and/or gender minority," "mother only," "unclassified," and "missing both parental roles"). RESULTS: Sexual and/or gender minority parents accounted for 6802 (0.3%) of live births in California over the 5-year study period. The most common sexual and/or gender minority parental structures were "mother-mother" (n=4310; 63% of the group) and "father-father" (n=1486; 22% of the group). Compared with "parents giving birth" in the "mother-father" structure (n=2,055,038; 91%), a higher proportion of "parents giving birth" in the "sexual and/or gender minority" group were aged ≥35 years, White, college-educated, and had commercial health insurance. In addition, a higher proportion had a high prepregnancy body mass index. Although likely underreported overall, the proportion of those who used assisted reproductive technology was much higher in the "sexual and/or gender minority" group (1.4%) than in the "mother-father" group (0.05%). Cigarette smoking in the 3 months before pregnancy was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Changes to the California birth certificate have revealed a multiplicity of parental structures. Our findings suggest that sexual and/or gender minority parents differ from other parental structures and from the general sexual and/or gender minority population and warrant further research.

The ABC of reproductive intentions: a mixed-methods study exploring the spectrum of attitudes towards family building.

STUDY QUESTION: What are the intentions of men and women of reproductive age in the UK regarding reproduction and family building? SUMMARY ANSWER: We identified six main categories of people; Avoiders, Betweeners, Completers, Desirers, Expectants and Flexers, for whom reproduction education strategies should be tailored differently to suit intentions. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Several studies have highlighted poor fertility awareness across men and women of reproductive age. As the average age of first-time parents continues to rise, there has been a concerted effort from educators, healthcare professionals, charities, reproductive health groups and government policymakers, to improve fertility awareness. In order to ensure that these messages are effective and to deploy the best strategies, it is important to understand people's reproductive health needs. This study therefore aimed to explore different reproductive intentions to aid tailoring of information to help individuals and couples achieve their family building desires. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We conducted a mixed-method study via a UK-wide cross-sectional survey with 1082 participants and semi-structured interviews of 20 women and 15 men who agreed to follow-up interviews. Interviews lasted an hour on average. Ethics approval from UCL Research Ethics Committee. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Survey participants were recruited nationwide via online newspaper and social media adverts. Interviewees were purposely sampled to include men and women from the reproductive age range (18-45 years), varying ethnicity and education background. Survey data were analysed using the Minitab statistical software package. Interview data were transcribed and analysed using the framework method. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: From the survey and interviews, we identified six key categories of people, grouped alphabetically, in a user-friendly manner to highlight a spectrum of reproductive intentions: Avoiders describes respondents who have no children and do not want to have children in the future; Betweeners describes those who already have child(ren) and want more in the future but are not actively trying to conceive; Completers describes those who have child(ren) but do not want more; Desirers describes those who are actively trying to conceive or plan to have child(ren) in the future; Expectants describes those who were pregnant at the time of the study; and Flexers describes those who may or may not already have and are unsure but or open to having child(ren) in the future. Analysis of survey data identified the following proportions in our study: Avoiders, 4.7%; Betweeners, 11.3%; Completers, 13.6%; Desirers, 36.9%; Expectants, 4.1%; and Flexers 28.4% and 2.4% preferring not to answer. There was one 'other' group from qualitative analysis, who would like to have children in the future but were unsure whether they could or had changing views. We recommend classifying as 'Desirers' or 'Flexers' for the purposes of fertility education. A majority of the survey population were trying to get pregnant; were pregnant; or planning to have a child in the future-whether actively, passively or simply open to the idea, with interviews providing deep insights into their family building decision-making. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Due to the online recruitment method, there may be a bias towards more educated respondents. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: We developed a user-friendly, alphabetical categorization of reproductive intentions, which may be used by individuals, healthcare professionals, educators, special interest groups, charities and policymakers to support and enable individuals and couples in making informed choices to achieve their desired intentions, if and when they choose to start a family. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): There was no external funding for this study. The authors report no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Fertility awareness and attitudes among resident physicians across different specialties.

PURPOSE: To evaluate knowledge of age-related fertility decline and oocyte cryopreservation among resident physicians in obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) compared to residents in other specialties. METHODS: An online survey was sent to the US residency program directors for ob-gyn, internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry. They were asked to forward the survey to their respective residents. The survey consisted of three sections: fertility knowledge, oocyte cryopreservation knowledge, and attitudes toward family building and fertility preservation. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare outcomes between ob-gyn and non-ob-gyn residents. RESULTS: Of the 2,828 completed surveys, 450 (15.9%) were by ob-gyn residents and 2,378 (84.1%) were by residents in other specialties. 66.3% of respondents were female. The median number of correct answers was 2 out of 5 on the fertility knowledge section and 1 out of 3 on the oocyte cryopreservation knowledge section among both ob-gyn and non-ob-gyn residents. After adjusting for covariates, residents in ob-gyn were no more likely to answer these questions correctly than residents in other specialties (fertility knowledge, adjusted OR .97, 95% CI .88-1.08; oocyte cryopreservation knowledge, adjusted OR 1.05, 95% CI .92-1.19). Ob-gyn residents were significantly more likely than non-ob-gyn residents to feel "somewhat supported" or "very supported" by their program to pursue family building goals (83.5% vs. 75.8%, OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.23-2.14). CONCLUSIONS: Resident physicians, regardless of specialty, have limited knowledge of natural fertility decline and the opportunity to cryopreserve oocytes. These data suggest need for improved fertility education.

Correlates of Taiwanese Gay and Bisexual Men's Family-Building Preferences: A Mediation Analysis.

This study investigated the role of filial piety, internalized homophobia, and desire for genetic relatedness with one's child in gay and bisexual men's family-building choice. A sample of 1,023 Taiwanese gay and bisexual men with a desire to have a child was recruited to complete an online survey that included the Contemporary Filial Piety Scale, the Chinese Internalized Homophobia Scale, and questions about desire for genetic relatedness with a child and acceptance of adoption and surrogacy. Mediation models, with desire for genetic relatedness as a mediator, were tested. The results show that those who chose surrogacy-only were older and had higher socio-economic status than those who selected adoption-only and both options. Filial piety and internalized homophobia were positively associated with the acceptance of surrogacy-only over adoption-only and both options. Desire for genetic relatedness mediated these relationships. This finding elucidates how sociocultural factors shape family-building preferences among gay and bisexual men.

Family-building and parenting considerations for people with cystic fibrosis.

As people with cystic fibrosis (CF) live longer and healthier lives, increasing numbers are considering the full range of reproductive options for their futures, including parenthood, pregnancy, or pregnancy prevention. As the face of CF changes, the CF care model must adapt to meet the reproductive health needs of both parents and nonparents with CF. This article summarizes the reproductive goals and family-building concerns faced by people with CF, including fertility, pregnancy, and alternative paths to parenthood, the impact of parenthood on mental and physical health, and important future research.

Feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a pilot intervention facilitating communication about family building between patients with inherited cancer risk and their partners.

Objective: This study reports the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a longitudinal, communication pilot intervention for patients with inherited cancer risk and their partners. Methods: Couples were recruited through social media and snowball sampling. At Time 1 and 2, 15 couples completed a structured discussion task about family building concerns and decisions, followed by an online post-discussion questionnaire and dyadic interview to provide feedback about the experience. Interview data were analyzed to assess outcomes using applied thematic analysis. Results: Participants reported the intervention created an opportunity for honest disclosure of family building goals and concerns. Participants also stated the structured nature of the discussion task was useful and did not cause additional stress. The intervention ultimately aided at-risk patients and their partners to realize their concordant concerns, discover/confront discordant concerns, and mutually agree upon next steps. Conclusions: This pilot intervention is feasible and acceptable. Furthermore, it offers a framework to facilitate effective communication about family building between patients with inherited cancer risk and their partners. Innovation: This intervention is the first conversational tool designed for at-risk patients and their partners.

Family building desires among transgender and gender expansive adolescents: A longitudinal family-level analysis.

Introduction: Professional societies state that Transgender and gender expansive (TGE) adolescents and their families should be counseled about future family building options prior to initiating gender affirming therapy. While emerging data show that TGE adolescents have diverse desires regarding future family building, little is known regarding how these preferences are developed in a larger ecological context. Aim: The current study used Ecological Systems Theory as a framework to describe the family building attitudes of TGE adolescents, their caregivers, and their siblings. Methods: Participants were recruited from community-based venues in the New England region of the U.S. to participate in the TTFN Project, a longitudinal community-based mixed methods study. The sample for the current study included 84 family members from 30 families (30 TGE adolescents, 11 siblings, 44 caregivers). All participants completed a semi-structured qualitative interview about family building attitudes and desires for TGE and cisgender adolescents at two waves across 6-8 months. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a combination of immersion/crystallization, thematic analysis, and template organizing style approaches. The Transgender Youth Fertility Attitudes Questionnaire (TYFAQ) was employed to quantitatively describe the family building attitudes of TGE adolescents and their families. Results: Eight themes corresponding to the levels of the ecological systems model - individual-level (perceived reproductive potential, reproductive identity), family-level (communication about family building, familial experiences and expectations), community-level (community support and role models; community expectations and norms), and societal/institutional-level (medicalization of family building, external sociopolitical factors) - were developed from the interviews. Results from the TYFAQ indicated that compared to cisgender adolescents, TGE adolescents were less likely to value having biological children and more likely to consider adoption in comparison to their cisgender siblings. Discussion: Findings emphasize the importance of using Ecological Systems Theory to understand the family building attitudes and desires of TGE adolescents and their families.

Parent-Child Communication and Reproductive Considerations in Families with Genetic Cancer Predisposition Syndromes: A Systematic Review.

Background: Uptake of genetic testing for heritable conditions is increasingly common. In families with known autosomal dominant genetic cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS), testing youth may reduce uncertainty and provide guidance for future lifestyle, medical, and family building considerations. The goals of this systematic review were to examine: (1) how parents and their children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYAs) communicate and make decisions regarding testing for CPS and (2) how they communicate and make decisions about reproductive health/family building in the context of risk for CPS. Methods: Searches of MEDLINE/Pubmed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO yielded 4161 articles since January 1, 2000, which contained terms related to youth, pediatrics, decision-making, genetic cancer predispositions, communication, and family building. Results: Articles retained (N = 15) included five qualitative, six quantitative, and four mixed-method designs. Parents generally agreed testing results should be disclosed to CAYAs at risk or affected by genetic conditions in a developmentally appropriate manner. Older child age and child desire for information were associated with disclosure. Greater knowledge about risk prompted adolescents and young adults to consider the potential impact on future relationships and family building. Conclusions: Most parents believed it was their responsibility to inform their CAYAs about genetic testing results, particularly to optimize engagement in recommended preventative screening/lifestyle behaviors. Disclosing test results may be challenging due to concerns such as young age, developmental appropriateness, and emotional burden. Additional research is needed on how CPS risk affects CAYAs' decisions about reproductive health and family building over time.