SELF-PERCEPTION OF INFERTILITY AMONG FEMALE ADOLESCENTS

Objective.-To determine the prevalence and correlates of the self-perc eption of infertility among female adolescents. Design.-Cross-sectiona l survey. Setting.-Urban adolescent clinic in a neighborhood health ce nter in Denver, Colo. Participants.-Two hundred sexually active, nulli parous, 14- through 18-year-old female adolescents. Measurements/Main Results.-Concerns about fertility were expressed by 43 (21.5%) of the 200 respondents. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the factor s most strongly associated with the self-perception of infertility wer e as follows (odds ratios; 95% confidence interval): a history of disc ussing infertility with anyone (4.3; 1.8 to 10.4); desire for pregnanc y (3.8; 1.4 to 10.3); boyfriend desiring pregnancy (3.0; 1.1 to 8.3); a history of sexually transmitted disease(s) (3.0; 1.2 to 7.1); and ha ving an older boyfriend (2.6; (1.1 to 6.2). Adolescents who doubted th eir fertility used contraceptives less frequently than other teens (30 % vs 55% of the time; P<.01). Conclusions.-The self-perception of infe rtility is common among sexually active urban female adolescents and m ay pose another barrier to contraceptive use. Our findings may help cl inicians counsel adolescents about contraceptives more effectively.