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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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