Peer-reviewed article

Thematic analysis of a United Kingdom-wide survey to explore women's perceptions and concerns about assisted reproductive technology.

Faiza Afzal, Ling Yin Fritz Wong, Mitana Purkayastha, Yan Lu, Philippa Rees et al. · 12 May 2026

Abstract

Women's perceptions of long-term outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) remain underexplored in the United Kingdom. National database studies investigating these outcomes may provide clearer information. This survey investigates women's perceptions of: long-term ART outcomes, information provision on these outcomes, and such national database studies. Over an 8-month period, women who had undergone ART, were considering ART, or had conceived naturally completed an anonymous, cross-sectional survey distributed via social media. Descriptive and inductive, semantic thematic analyses were performed. Of 562 respondents, most were aged 25-40 (72.4%) and underwent private ART (37.9%). Most reported no concerns about maternal health (51.8%), child health (66.9%) and child education (82.5%). Reported concerns focused on maternal reproductive, cancer and endocrine outcomes, and child reproductive, neurodevelopmental, developmental and learning outcomes. Information on long-term outcomes was frequently not provided by fertility clinics (up to 91.9%). While up to 68.3% considered national database studies useful for investigating offspring outcomes, some raised data confidentiality concerns. Dissemination via healthcare professionals sensitively pre-treatment was preferred. Overall, most women reported no concerns about and received no information on long-term ART outcomes in maternal health, child health and child education. Improving clinician-led information provision may address knowledge gaps and support research dissemination.