Predicting reproductive problems from adolescence

Cindy Farquhar

With the trend towards having children at a later age, many women in their 30’s are shocked to discover reproductive or fertility problems – and are left with little time to conceive naturally or seek fertility treatment. Being able to predict reproductive health or fertility problems at an early age would enable women to take preventative measures, or to plan to have children earlier.

Professor Cindy Farquhar is planning a study of 16-year old New Zealand girls, to determine whether menstrual symptoms in adolescence can predict reproductive health or fertility problems in the future. A questionnaire will be developed in the first phase of the project that can be used for a longitudinal study. The pilot study will recruit 90 sixteen-year old girls from secondary schools to complete the questionnaire and participate in focus groups. The questionnaire will be repeated every 3 years during the longitudinal study, for at least 15 years. Adolescent menstrual symptoms can then be examined to see if there is a pattern that leads to future fertility problems.