Reproductive Health Research Group
The overall purpose of the research conducted in the Reproductive Health research group at the Section of Social Medicine is to study the consequences of infertility and its treatment, how we can prevent infertility and its consequences, and to study family formation.
To address the research questions we use data on psychosocial factors, data on health and mortality, clinical and biomedical data, and data on family formation.
We have a special focus on three overall research programs:
Infertility and pregnancy loss is the most frequent chronic disease among 25-45 year old women and men. Both health conditions are long-lasting, severe low-control stressors that are potential risk factors for developing poorer mental health. Further, infertility and pregnancy loss are potential risk factors for later development of other chronic diseases as e.g., cancer and cardiac diseases.
Research program
We aim at investigating the psychosocial and mental health consequences of infertility, pregnancy loss and its treatment. Studies focus on stress, depression, communication, coping, impact on partnership and on other social relations. Further, we aim at investigating infertility and its treatment, and pregnancy loss as risk factors for later somatic health, e.g., cancer and early death.
Contact: Lone Schmidt, Ditte Vassard, Emily Koert, Gert Martin Hald, Gritt Marie Hviid Malling, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, or Randi Sylvest
During the last several decades, couples in the Western world have postponed family formation to ages that increases the risk of infertility, pregnancy loss, staying childless or having smaller families than desired.
Studies show that overall, the population's knowledge of fertility and risk factors for infertility and pregnancy loss is not sufficient. Further, a limited number of studies indicate that pregnancy loss and repeated pregnancy loss are severe risk factors for poorer mental health as e.g., depression. There is a lack of intervention studies aiming at reducing the negative psychosocial impact of pregnancy loss.
Research program
We aim to develop, implement and evaluate different educational intervention studies in order to increase the population's fertility knowledge. In the long run, we hope to contribute to the prevention of infertility and pregnancy loss. Further, we aim to develop, implement and test interventions in order to reduce the negative psychosocial consequences of pregnancy loss.
Contact: Lone Schmidt, Emily Koert, Gert Martin Hald, Gritt Marie Hviid Malling, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, Juliana Pedro, or Mariana Veloso Martins
Fertility patterns are changing with postponement of family building. We have limited knowledge on childless people's reflections on their family building intentions and desires.
Further, some people are at risk for having a reduced fertility potential due to e.g., chronic diseases as cancer in childhood/early adulthood or other factors associated with infertility and pregnancy loss.
Research program
We aim to explore childless people's reflections on family building, their parenthood desires and decision-making process regarding having/not having children, and enablers for earlier family formation. We also aim to explore family formation among people with infertility and/or pregnancy loss and family formation among childhood/early adulthood cancer survivors. Further, we aim to investigate health-related and socio-demographic risk factors for later developing infertility and seeking fertility treatment in order to establish a family.
Contact: Lone Schmidt, Ditte Vassard, Emily Koert, Gritt Marie Hviid Malling, Henriette Svarre Nielsen, Ida Vittrup Nielsen, or Randi Sylvest
Lone Schmidthas established the cross-disciplinary and international Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) Research Programme.
COMPI is also part of the Sexuality, Interpersonal Relationships & Reproductive Health (SIR) Research Group, Department of Public Health.
Our research is based on longitudinal studies with repeated measurements of important variables from questionnaire-based studies, national register based data, and data from medical records as well as qualitative interview studies.
Data Resources
COMPI Infertility Cohort
COMPI Danish National ART-Couple (DANAC) I Cohort
COMPI Danish National ART-Couple (DANAC) II Cohort
Qualitative interview studies with women and men on family formation intentions and with couples experiencing pregnancy loss.
Research Group Leader
Lone Schmidt
Professor MSO, ph.d., dr.med.
Email: lone.schmidt@sund.ku.dk
Phone:+45 35 32 76 31
Core group
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hougaard, Charlotte Ørsted | Data Administrator | +4535337217 | |
| Malling, Gritt Marie Hviid | PhD Fellow | +4535327715 | |
| Schmidt, Lone | Professor with special responsibilities | +4535327631 |
Core collaborators
| Name | Title | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Anja Pinborg | Professor | Rigshospitalet, Denmark |
| Brennan D. Peterson | Professor | Chapman University, California |
| Clara Glazer | PhD Student | Bispebjerg Hospital |
| Gert Martin Hald | Associate Professor | University of Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Henriette Svarre Nielsen | Consultant | Hvidovre Hospital |
| Ida Vittrup Nielsen | Research Assistant | |
| Jacky Boivin | Professor | Cardiff University, UK |
| Juliana Pedro | PhD Student | Porto University, Portugal |
| Julie Lyng Forman | Associate Professor | University of Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Dr. Karin Hammarberg | Senior Research Fellow | Monash University, Australia |
| Mariana Veloso Martins | Assistant Professor | Porto University, Portugal |