Action 8: Educate Patients and the Public

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8. Educate patients and the public: Knowledge about fertility, including how to prevent infertility, when to seek health care, and how to access fertility services can help overcome some of the existing barriers.

There are major gaps in the understanding of human reproduction among patients and the public. Preventive measures, which include avoiding sexually transmitted infections, appropriate timing of sexual intercourse and avoiding delayed childbearing, can reduce the risk of future infertility. Information about accessing fertility care and obtaining appropriate referrals can improve the quality of fertility care. Sharing information with patients will enable meaningful discussions with healthcare providers to inform joint decision-making. (Daniluk, 2012; ASRM, 2012d)