Fertility history and intentions of married women, China
Qin Li, Rui Yang, Zehong Zhou, Weiping Qian, Jian Zhang, Ze Wu, Lei Jin, Xueqing Wu, Cuilian Zhang, Beihong Zheng, Jichun Tan, Guimin Hao, Shangwei Li, Yongxiu Hao, Danni Zheng, Yuanyuan Wang, Rong Li, Ping Liu, Jie Qiao
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the proportion of married women in China who intend to become pregnant given the country's pronatalist population policy and to investigate fecundity, with an emphasis on the influence of socioeconomic factors. Methods: A nationally representative survey of 12 815 married women aged 20 to 49 years (mean: 36.8 years) was conducted during 2019 and 2020. All completed questionnaires, 10 115 gave blood samples and 11 710 underwent pelvic ultrasound examination. Fertility intention was the desire or intent to become pregnant combined with engagement in unprotected sexual intercourse. We defined infertility as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of unprotected intercourse. We considered an anti-Müllerian hormone level < 1.1 ng/mL and an antral follicular count < 7 as indicating an abnormal ovarian reserve. Findings: < 0.05). Conclusion: The willingness of Chinese married women to give birth remained low, even with relaxation of the one-child policy.