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Understanding fertility management in contemporary Australia

Australia has high rates both of unintended pregnancy and of infertility; each has profound effects on individual lives as well as on the community as a whole. The purpose of this research project is to learn about how people manage their fertility over a lifetime and to use that knowledge to develop relevant health promotion strategies. The ultimate goal is to increase the likelihood that pregnancies are intended and people’s reproductive hopes are achieved

This research is being conducted by Professor Jane Fisher and others at the Jean Hailes Research Unit, Monash University, in collaboration with Family Planning Victoria, the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne IVF, and the Victorian Department of Health.

Are you interested in participating in this research?

• Have you or your partner had trouble getting pregnant?
• Have you or your partner sought an abortion?
• Have relationship problems (or the lack of a relationship) disrupted your plans for children?
• Do you have more or fewer children than you wanted?
• Do you have exactly the right number of children?
• What advice do you have for people trying to manage their fertility today?
• What would you like to tell politicians, policy makers, educators, or others about helping people in Australia to manage their fertility?

Your story could help others

We are looking for men and women aged 18 to 50 to take part in group discussions or give one-on-one interviews about how they manage their fertility.

We plan to use the results of the research to help people to have children when they want them, and to avoid pregnancy when they don’t. 

Who can participate?

• Women and men aged 18-50 years able to communicate in English.

What you’ll be asked to do

You can choose to participate in a small group discussion or be interviewed on your own (face-to-face or by telephone). Interviews and discussions should take about an hour. Before you agree to participate, you’ll be given detailed information about the research.

How to be involved, or contact us, about the project

If you would like to participate, or want further information about the research, please email Dr Sara Holton at fertility.management@monash.edu or phone 1800 880 045.