The Importance of Including Reproductive Life Plan Counseling During Contraceptive Counseling: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of the study is to evaluate the outcomes of the reproductive life plan counseling on knowledge about fertility and awareness of preconception health.

2 groups of women visiting a primary health care center for contraceptive counseling are formed: a control group that will receive the standard care (standard family planning counseling) and the intervention group that will receive the standard family planning counseling in addition to the reproductive life plan counseling.

The included women are aged between 20 and 40 years. They are informed about the study when they call the center to make their appointment. When they attend the center, they receive a written and oral information and they are also informed that participation is voluntary and that they can interrupt their participation at any time without explanation. The women who agree to participate will sign an informed consent.

The midwives will be trained to reproductive life plan counseling before the commencement of the study. They have access to a template with discussion points to choose from, depending on the woman's answer to the first question (Do you want children/more children in the future?). If the answer is "no" the counseling will focus on contraceptive methods and sexual health (avoiding sexually transmitted diseases). If the answer is "yes" the discussion will focus on preconception and reproductive health (avoiding alcohol and tobacco, taking folic acid at least one month before conception, avoiding under and overweight,...).

Randomization: sealed envelopes are prepared with notes for CG (control group) or IG (intervention group). Before starting the counseling, the midwife opens the envelope containing instructions for either CG or IG.