Science

Challenge 5: Fertility Awareness

Our ambition is to contribute to increased knowledge and awareness on reproductive health – for the individual, the public and decision-makers in Denmark and Sweden.

The Mission

We will uncover the level of knowledge about reproductive health among selected population groups. And we will study how existing behavioral and knowledge-enhancing initiatives and interventions have had both positive and negative effects on family information.

We will examine the sexological, personal, social and intercultural barriers faced by young people and which cause them to postpone early family formation.

The research project is carried out both in Denmark and Sweden, and the results are published in relevant journals and used for communication and public affairs initiatives, in order to increase the level of knowledge for both the population and decision makers in both countries.

There is ongoing speculation on how the Covid-19 pandemic is influencing the fertility rate. With additional funding granted end of 2020, ReproUnion’s Fertility Awareness team will research the impact on building families. Researchers will study register-data and carry out qualitative interviews with couples in both Denmark and Sweden – in the context of the pandemic.

Contact

Pernille Gaardbo
pg@reprounion.eu
+45 4036 3294

WEBINARS & PODCASTS

Indications, intentions and attitudes towards family formation
In ReproUnion’s first webinar in 2021, we presented recent research from the project, including a qualitative exploration of fertility awareness among young childless men. Here you can watch the recording and revisit the full programme.

What kept you?

The podcast about involuntary childlessness wants to raise the awareness of what it takes physically, mentally and financially to undergo fertility treatment. During six episodes the listener will get under the skin of the host Sabrina and her partner Kristoffer in their fight to have a child.

Among the visiting experts are two Professors who are also part of ReproUnion. In the podcast Lone Schmidt is sharing a historic perspective of reduced fertility and Anja Pinborg is explaining fertility treatment methods. The series is sponsored by the European Sperm Bank and their CEO is sharing perspectives of sperm donation. Here you can find more information about the Danish podcast series ‘Hvor bliver du af?’

‘You don’t have to wait’

The Danish podcast addresses the considerations young people have, when it comes to building families, including big decisions on their financial situation, education, relationship and much more. During six episodes, Caroline Kiehn and Marie Dencker meet two young couples, who have decided to become parents in their early twenties. You can listen to the podcasts on Spotify, itunes and spreaker (all in Danish). It has been produced in collaboration with challenge 5.

The objective of the Fertility Awareness project is to identify which societal, social, cultural and family norms and structures that cause young people to postpone family formation beyond the period of their lives, where they are biologically most fertile. In addition, research is carried out to uncover the level of knowledge on reproductive health among young adults, as well as which sexological, personal, social and intercultural roadblocks that affects young women and men’s decision on family formation negatively and positively.

Evidence-based knowledge about family structures that influence the decision to have children is very sparse. In the project, therefore, knowledge will be collected from both young women, young men, and potential grandparents. The research project is carried out both in Denmark and Sweden, and the results are analyzed both nationally and between the countries, in order to identify barriers and existing initiatives and interventions that have a positive effect on family formation.