Research question

What are the key drivers and barriers for infertile patients and their partners to see an infertility specialist and initiate treatment?

Design

An online, international, 30-minute quantitative survey collected data from 1944 respondents from nine countries. Respondents were infertile patients (n = 1037) or partners of infertile patients (n = 907; but not necessarily partners of the patient sample), at different stages of the treatment journey.

Results

The overall average times were 3.2 years to receiving a medical infertility diagnosis, 2.0 years attempting to achieve pregnancy without assistance before treatment, and 1.6 years of treatment before successful respondents achieved pregnancy. The most common driver for considering treatment after a consultation (n = 1025) was an equal desire within the couple to have a child (40.8%). Of the partners (n = 356), 29.8% reported that transparency of information from healthcare professionals about treatment expectations was important. A significantly higher proportion of respondents seeking treatment reported that healthcare professionals offered supportive services (61.2%) and mental health services (62.0%), than of the 207 respondents who did not seek treatment (32.4% and 36.7%, respectively; P < 0.001). Perceived cost was the most commonly reported barrier for respondents not seeking a consultation (37.5% of n = 352) or treatment (42.0% of n = 207). Of the 95 respondents who discontinued treatment, 34.7% discontinued due to the financial impact.

Conclusions

Respondents reported significant delays to seeking treatment, probably negatively impacting the chances of achieving pregnancy. Motivational coherence within couples was a key driver and cost of treatment was the main barrier. Reported supportive service offerings by healthcare professionals were significantly associated with continuation of the treatment journey.

中文翻译：

---

与不孕症患者和不孕症患者伴侣的初始会诊和治疗显着延迟相关的障碍和因素

研究问题

不孕症患者及其伴侣去看不孕症专家并开始治疗的主要驱动因素和障碍是什么？

设计

一项 30 分钟的在线国际定量调查收集了来自 9 个国家的 1944 名受访者的数据。受访者是不孕症患者（n  = 1037）或不孕症患者的伴侣（n  = 907；但不一定是患者样本的伴侣），处于治疗过程的不同阶段。

结果

接受医学不孕症诊断的总体平均时间为 3.2 年，在治疗前在没有帮助的情况下尝试怀孕的平均时间为 2.0 年，成功的受访者在成功怀孕之前的治疗时间为 1.6 年。咨询后考虑治疗的最常见驱动因素 ( n  = 1025) 是夫妻双方对生育孩子的平等愿望 (40.8%)。合作伙伴（n = 356)，29.8% 的人报告说，医疗保健专业人员关于治疗预期的信息的透明度很重要。与未寻求治疗的 207 名受访者（分别为 32.4% 和 36.7%；P  < 0.001 ）。对于不寻求咨询（ n  = 352 的 37.5%）或治疗（n  = 207的 42.0%）的受访者来说，感知成本是最常见的障碍。在停止治疗的 95 名受访者中，34.7% 的人因财务影响而停止治疗。

结论

受访者报告了寻求治疗的重大延误，这可能对怀孕的机会产生负面影响。夫妻之间的动机一致性是一个关键驱动因素，而治疗成本是主要障碍。报告的医疗保健专业人员提供的支持服务与继续治疗过程显着相关。