First reproductive experience: A survey module

Background: The first reproductive experience, particularly its timing, shapes reproductive pathways and the number of children a person has. However, most surveys that record childbearing histories do not ask about this formative initial experience.

Objective: This questionnaire module on first reproductive experiences aims to improve the understanding of women’s and men’s reproductive pathways by capturing the timing, sequence, and outcomes of the first attempt to conceive or the first unplanned pregnancy.

Methods: The module was developed through conceptual design, cognitive testing, and pilot implementation in the Czech Generations and Gender Survey (GGS-II. Wave 2). It collects data on age at first pregnancy attempt or first unplanned pregnancy, duration until conception or discontinuation of attempts, use of fertility treatments, and outcomes (e.g., abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, or live birth).

Results: Pilot testing demonstrated clear question comprehension and a smooth response process, even for sensitive items. Missing or ‘don’t know’ responses remained within a reasonable range (2%–10%), indicating the suitability of the module for large-scale surveys.

Contribution: This novel instrument addresses critical gaps in fertility research by improving our understanding of contemporary reproductive experiences. By documenting the age and timing of events, it helps to (1) quantify reproductive difficulties and successes by age, (2) calculate Time to Pregnancy (TTP) and to live birth in the general population in an inclusive and accurate way, (3) link the first reproductive experience to broader life course factors. Integrating this module into demographic and family surveys allows building a bridge between reproductive health and demographic research.