Emily Christina Koert

Emily Christina Koert

Guest Researcher

Primary fields of research

I am a scientist-practitioner trained as a Registered Psychologist. My research and clinical work is focused in the field of reproductive health including psychosocial consequences of infertility, pregnancy loss, use of assisted reproduction and childlessness; family building and decision-making; and fertility awareness and education. Specifically, I conduct research that provides information on how to reduce the negative mental health consequences of infertility, pregnancy loss and childlessness on women and couples and to promote informed and satisfying fertility decision-making in reproductive-aged men and women.

I specialize in qualitative and mixed methods research that has implications for intervention development and clinical practice in public health, reproductive and gynecological health care and psychology. I provide supervision and teaching in psychology, public health and medicine. 

Current research

In January 2020 I accepted a postdoctoral position at the Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen. My overal goal in my postdoctoral work is to conduct research that helps reduce the negative psychosocial impact of pregnancy loss on women and their partners by better understanding and promoting support and coping strategies and how health care professionals can support these patients. I am a member of the Reproductive Health research group at the Section of Social Medicine led by Professor Lone Schmidt. 

Since 2021 I have been leading the PREGAFTERPL research project in collaboration with Professor Lone Schmidt, Section of Social Medicine, and Professor Henriette Svarre Nielsen, Amager Hvidovre Hospital and with the Copenhagen Pregnancy Loss research program led by Prof. Nielsen. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101028172.

Using qualitative longitudinal interviews with pregnant couples with one or two prior pregnancy losses (PL), we have investigated couples’ experiences and needs for medical care, psychosocial support and follow-up during a pregnancy after PL(s). Couples were interviewed after a positive pregnancy test and once in each trimester to also shed light on common reactions and ways of coping during pregnancy after PL. The findings were integrated into a new information and support tool intervention co-developed with stakeholders and patients and informed the development and presentation of workshops for clinicians to inform and enhance care provided to these couples. Results on couples’ needs for medical care have been published and presented at national and international conferences and a manuscript on the development on the intervention is forthcoming. Further feasibility testing, implementation and evaluation of the intervention is planned. 

See the first PREGAFTERPL paper here.

See the information and support tool intervention here. 

ID: 232690365