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Table 3 Factor scores per statement

From: Women’s viewpoints on egg freezing in Austria: an online Q-methodology study

# Statement Factor
1 2 3
1 Egg freezing for social reasons stimulates women to postpone childbearing  − 1* 1* 0*
2 There should be strict age limits for assisted reproduction 2 2 1*
3 When women want to have children, they should do so at a younger age  − 3 2*  − 2
4 Women wait too long with starting a family  − 2* 0  − 1
5 The potential benefits are worth the burden of the treatment (hormone therapy and egg cell retrieval) 0  − 1* 1
6 Although the chance of success is uncertain, it is important that the option is available 2  − 1* 3
7 Egg freezing for social reasons creates false hopes about the ability to have children at a later age  − 2* 4*  − 1*
8 Freezing eggs is preferable over freezing embryos 2 0* 2
9 Women are insufficiently aware of their fertility lifespan 1* 0* 3*
10 Egg freezing for social reasons is a business of hope  − 1* 0 1
11 It is unnatural to preserve fertility beyond the fertile age 1* 4* 0*
12 Only because the option of freezing eggs is available does not mean it should be done 0 3*  − 1
13 Egg freezing for medical reasons should be covered by the health insurance 3 1* 2
14 Egg freezing for social reasons should be covered by the health insurance  − 1*  − 3*  − 1*
15 Egg freezing for social reasons should be paid for by the user 1 0 0
16 Women who want to freeze their eggs for social reasons should do so abroad  − 4  − 2*  − 3
17 The extension of fertility improves gender equality 0  − 4* 0
18 Egg freezing for social reasons promotes equal opportunities for women and men 0  − 2* 1
19 There is insufficient attention for the ethical aspects of egg freezing in general 0 1* 0
20 Egg freezing for social reasons requires a societal debate 0 0 2
21 I find egg freezing for medical reasons more acceptable than for social reasons 2 2 0*
22 Not all social reasons for egg freezing are equally good reasons 1 1 0*
23 Egg freezing is against my convictions  − 4 0*  − 4
24 Starting a family is an ultimate wish of human beings  − 1*  − 1*  − 2*
25 Egg freezing for social reasons should remain prohibited by law  − 3* 1*  − 3*
26 People have a right to have a genetic child 2*  − 1*  − 4*
27 People have a right to have a child 4*  − 2  − 3
28 Egg freezing should be available to all women 3  − 3* 3
29 Women should be able to freeze their eggs for any reasons 0  − 2* 2
30 Age-related fertility loss is a medical problem  − 2  − 2 1*
31 Women should make unused eggs available for donation  − 2  − 1  − 2
32 Unused eggs should remain in possession of the woman 1 0 2*
33 Women should be able to make their own choices regarding fertility preservation 4  − 1* 4
34 Egg freezing for social reasons allows women to organize their lives without pressure from the ‘‘biological clock.’’ 1  − 4* 1
35 If infertile women want to have children, they should opt for adoption  − 1 1*  − 1
36 If women take the risk of waiting too long they should accept the possible consequence of childlessness  − 2* 3*  − 1*
37 It is difficult to invest in career and family at the same time 3 2 4*
38 Women should think of their career first and parenthood next  − 3  − 3  − 2
39 Political measures are needed to facilitate parenthood at a younger age 0* 3*  − 2*
40 Employers should facilitate parenthood at a younger age  − 1 2* 0
  1. Statements which are characterizing for a factor are the ones scoring − 4, − 3, + 3, and + 4, distinguishing statements are marked with *
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BMC Medical Ethics

ISSN: 1472-6939

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