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Infertility and fertility intentions, desires, and outcomes among US women

Author

Listed:
  • Karina Shreffler

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Stacy Tiemeyer

    (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences)

  • Cassandra Dorius

    (Iowa State University)

  • Tiffany Spierling

    (Oklahoma State University)

  • Arthur Greil

    (Alfred University)

  • Julia McQuillan

    (University of Nebraska–Lincoln)

Abstract

Objective: Little is known about how the experience of infertility or identification as someone with infertility shapes women’s fertility intentions, desires, or birth outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to help fill this gap in knowledge for fertility-intentions research. Methods: Using data from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB), we use linear and logistic regression methods to assess how infertility and parity statuses are associated with fertility intentions and desires, as well as how statuses at one point in time predict birth three years later. Results: We find that infertility is associated with lower fertility intentions. Women who have experienced infertility and/or identify as a person with infertility, however, express greater desires to have a baby and a higher ideal number of children. Women who meet the medical criteria for infertility are less likely than fecund women to give birth, despite greater desires. Conclusions: These findings have important theoretical implications for our understanding of the meaning of fertility intentions for those who think their ability to achieve their intentions is uncertain, as well as for empirical research on fertility.

Suggested Citation

  • Karina Shreffler & Stacy Tiemeyer & Cassandra Dorius & Tiffany Spierling & Arthur Greil & Julia McQuillan, 2016. "Infertility and fertility intentions, desires, and outcomes among US women," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(39), pages 1149-1168.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:35:y:2016:i:39
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2016.35.39
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Icek Ajzen & Jane Klobas, 2013. "Fertility intentions," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 29(8), pages 203-232.
    2. Greil, Arthur L. & McQuillan, Julia & Lowry, Michele & Shreffler, Karina M., 2011. "Infertility treatment and fertility-specific distress: A longitudinal analysis of a population-based sample of U.S. women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 87-94, July.
    3. Elizabeth Thomson, 1997. "Couple childbearing desires, intentions, and births," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 34(3), pages 343-354, August.
    4. White, Lynn & McQuillan, Julia & Greil, Arthur L. & Johnson, David R., 2006. "Infertility: Testing a helpseeking model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(4), pages 1031-1041, February.
    5. Maximova, Katerina & Quesnel-Vallée, Amélie, 2009. "Mental health consequences of unintended childlessness and unplanned births: Gender differences and life course dynamics," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 850-857, March.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alison Gemmill, 2019. "From Some to None? Fertility Expectation Dynamics of Permanently Childless Women," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(1), pages 129-149, February.
    2. Ester Lazzari & Edith Gray & Bernard Baffour, 2022. "A dyadic approach to the study of perceived subfecundity and contraceptive use," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(1), pages 1-36.
    3. Eleonora Mussino & Giuseppe Gabrielli & Livia Elisa Ortensi & Salvatore Strozza, 2023. "Fertility Intentions Within a 3-Year Time Frame: a Comparison Between Migrant and Native Italian Women," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 233-260, March.
    4. Katherine M. Johnson & Arthur L. Greil & Karina M. Shreffler & Julia McQuillan, 2018. "Fertility and Infertility: Toward an Integrative Research Agenda," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 37(5), pages 641-666, October.
    5. Ni Ning & Jingfei Tang & Yizhou Huang & Xiangmin Tan & Qian Lin & Mei Sun, 2022. "Fertility Intention to Have a Third Child in China following the Three-Child Policy: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    infertility; fertility; fertility intentions; births; National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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