Knowledge, attitude, intention, and religion aspect toward fertility preservation among obstetrics and gynecology residents in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study

Background: The lack of knowledge from healthcare providers regarding fertilitypreservation will certainly affect the patient’s knowledge, attitude, behavior, and alsoperspective. Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) residents may most likely be thefirst line professionals to integrate fertility preservation technologies into their practicewhich plays an important task in giving an understanding of the relationship betweenage and fertility for patients.Objective: This study aims to assess OB/GYN resident knowledge and beliefsregarding age-related fertility decline, intentions, and religion aspect toward fertilitypreservation.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 IndonesianOB/GYN residents at the Cipto Mangunkusomo Hospital between November andDecember 2017. Data were collected using a questionnaire which had four sections,knowledge, attitude, intention, and religion aspect toward fertility preservation.Results: The majority of participants believed that an OB/GYN should encouragediscussions about potential childbearing desires (96.74%) and age-related fertilitydecline (94.57%) with patients, of which 79.34% believed that these discussions shouldbe part of a woman’s annual health examination. Cancer patients are likely to undergooocyte cryopreservation than people who choose career as priority. From the religionaspect, fertility preservation options such as sperm, oocyte, embryo, and ovarian cortexcryopreservation were accepted by most residents with varied religions, while oocyteand sperm donor methods were unacceptable (48% and 57%, respectively) becauseof the belief that oocyte/sperm should only be given to legitimate partners, but manystill do not know that oocyte and sperm donor were prohibited by all religions.Conclusion: Age-related fertility decline and frozen egg storage should be discussedduring annual woman wellness examinations by OB/GYN specialists.