Fear of inability to conceive in pregnant adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the demographic and health history differences between pregnant adolescents who had fears that they would not be able to conceive and those without these fears.

METHODS

Three hundred pregnant adolescents presenting for their first prenatal visit participated in a cohort study that addressed attitudes about pregnancy. All participants were aged younger than 20 years and gave informed consent. The outcome of interest was a positive response to the question "Did you have any fears that you wouldn't be able to get pregnant?" Independent measures included health history and demographic variables.

RESULTS

Among participants, 42% stated they had fears about not being able to conceive. The total sample included 20% 12-15 year olds, 39% 16-17 year olds and 41% 18-19 year-olds. There was no statistically significant difference in fear of not being able to conceive by maternal age, reported sexually transmitted disease rates, or age at first intercourse. More adolescents who expressed fear of infertility had a previous spontaneous abortion, previous pelvic examination, and were sexually active for a longer period of time compared with those without this fear.

CONCLUSION

A large proportion of pregnant adolescents in this study expressed fear that they would not be able to conceive. Understanding the basis of the fear is critical to appreciating its association with current and future adolescent pregnancy and contraceptive use.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.