PRECONCEPTION ADVICE FOR FERTILITY PATIENTS
ARE WE MISSING THE BASICS?
Charlotte Simms (1), Zanib Maqsood (2), Safa Patel (2), Nicola Tempest (2,3)
1.Liverpool University Hospital Trust 2. University of Liverpool 3. Hewitt Fertility center, Liverpool Woman’s Hospital
Background
•WHO reports 1 in 6 people globally are affected by infertility.
•Preconception care is vital in optimising outcomes and minimising risks associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
•Lifestyle and nutritional factorssignificantly impact fertility, many patients lack clear, actionable information.
•Despite growing awareness, gaps remain in patient knowledge regarding how lifestyle factors influence reproductive health.
Objective
Develop a visually engaging infographic and evaluate knowledge change following viewing of infographic.
Design
A prospective service improvement project.
Methods
•100 patients attending a tertiary ART clinic were randomly selected.
•Patients rated the impact of exercise, diet, weight, smoking and alcohol on fertility (1=little impact, 5=high impact) before and after reading the infographic.
•Free text was allowed for patients to recorded points they were not aware of before viewing the infographic.
•Data was analysed using paired t-tests (GraphPad) and qualitative analysis.
Infographic
Consolidates evidence-based lifestyle, dietary, and supplement advice to help individuals optimisetheir fertility and prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
Emphasise simple, actionable changes patients can make.
Clear, visually engaging, accessible format.
Results
The impact patients attributed to all domains of pre-conception care on fertility outcomes increased significantly post viewing the infographic.
Qualitative findings:
•12% unaware of caffeine risks
•7% unaware of exercise implications
•4% unaware of weight impact
•3% unaware alcohol affects fertility
Conclusions
•Infographic had a significant impact on participants' understanding of all assessed factors on fertility.
•Patients learned new information about modifiable risk factors.
•Infographics are effective, low-resource tools for health education.
•Accessible patient education is essential in fertility care.
•Simple, evidence-based resources can empower patients and support behaviour change.
•Although 1 in 6 people globally are affected by infertility, 39% of adults are overweight and 23% are insufficiently active. These statistics underscore the importance of addressing preconception care holistically to optimise reproductive health outcomes.
