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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04647136

The Effect of Fertility Health Awareness Strategies on Fertility Knowledge and Childbearing in Young Married Couples

Singapore, like many developed countries, is experiencing low birth rates, which is coupled with increasing age at first marriage and birth. In addition, demand for assisted reproduction technology treatments has increased over the years. Fertility awareness surveys have consistently shown that public awareness of age-related fertility decline and the limitations of fertility treatments is generally low, and this may lead to couples not optimising their fertility potential to achieve their family aspirations. This trial aims to study the effect of fertility health screening and fertility awareness tools on knowledge, attitudes and practice around childbearing among young Singaporean married couples.

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Key information

Conditions

Fertility Awareness Behavior Childbearing Intentions

Age range

25 year–34 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Married couple
  • Both partners should be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents
  • Female partner is 25 - 34 years old at time of recruitment
  • Both partners agreeable and able to complete study procedures

Exclusion criteria

  • Already have children, including from previous marriages
  • Pregnant
  • Currently undergoing or had previously went for any fertility evaluation and/or treatments
  • Self-reported history of previous ectopic pregnancy in the female partner
  • At least 1 partner unable to complete a self-administered questionnaire in English

Treatment and study plan

Fertility Health Screening

Diagnostic Test

Basic fertility health screening comprising an anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test and semen analysis, a doctor's consultation to explain the results, and standardised reproductive counselling by a trained nurse comprising a discussion of reproductive plans (including addressing barriers the couple face), education on age-related fertility decline and limitations of artificial reproductive technologies, advice on the optimal reproductive timing and when to seek further help. An educational brochure will be handed to the couple during the counselling session.

Fertility Awareness Tools

Behavioral

Online intervention consisting of 1) video targeting fertility education and specific attitudes, social norms and perceived control for having children, 2) a fertility awareness tool (FERTISTAT) and 3) an educational brochure on fertility. This intervention can be self-administered and is therefore easily scalable.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in parenthood intentions

    Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and 6 months later

    The difference in the female partner's intended age at first birth at 6 months post-randomization compared to baseline, elicited by a direct question in pre and post-questionnaires.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in fertility awareness

    Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and 6 months later

    The difference in fertility awareness as measured by the Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale (CFKS) at 6 months post-randomization compared to baseline. The CFKS is a 13-item scale where each correct answer is assigned 1 point. Points are summed and converted to the % correct fertility knowledge score with a range of 0 - 100%.

  2. Conception efforts

    Time frame: 6 moths post-randomization

    Proportion of couples who are (a) attempting to conceive, (b) pregnant, (c) who pursued more comprehensive fertility screening and/or (d) who pursued fertility treatment.

  3. Birth number

    Time frame: 2 and 3 years post-randomization

    Number of births

  4. Birth timing

    Time frame: 2 and 3 years post-randomization

    Time to first birth

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Singapore General Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Cardiff University
  • Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
  • KK Women's and Children's Hospital
  • National Population and Talent Division
  • Singapore Health Services

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Fertility Health Awareness Strategies on Fertility Knowledge and Childbearing in Young Married Couples (FertStart)

Acronym: FertStart

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Nov 30, 2020
Registry last updated
Apr 16, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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