There are concerning gaps in our knowledge about fertility

For many it starts at school, giggling or blushing our way through sex education.

In adolescence, contraception and avoiding pregnancy are usually the biggest fertility concerns for most.

As time rolls on, we might start to consider parenthood.

But what do Australians really think, know, feel and do when it comes to their reproductive health?

Launched this month, Monash IVFs Fertility Insights Index is an Australian-first initiative which has produced the country's first scorecard on fertility and uncovered some fascinating findings.

The index, based on responses by 1001 people aged 18-44 to a comprehensive online questionnaire, has scored Australians 61.35 out of 100 for their fertility attitude, awareness, knowledge and behaviour.

Overall, it found young people value their fertility, but their knowledge on key aspects of their reproductive health is comparatively low.

The survey asked respondents from every state across Australia, in metro and regional areas, about a range of fertility-related topics covering contraception to conception.

There were questions on menstrual health, endometriosis, egg freezing, sperm and egg donation, pre-conception genetic testing and IVF.

Understanding fertility isn't just about having babies - its about making informed decisions about our bodies.

While 40 per cent said fertility was very important to them at this point in their lives, the index found just 11 per cent have had their fertility tested.

One in five young Australians have never heard of endometriosis, despite the debilitating pain it causes and its potentially negative effect on fertility.

A whopping 94 per cent have heard of sperm donation, but only 69 per cent admit they know much about it.

A little over half of the respondents knew that being over 40 can make it difficult to conceive and fewer still understand that taking muscle-building steroids can cause fertility issues.

These gaps in knowledge can lead to delayed diagnoses, missed opportunities for proactive fertility care and misconceptions about reproductive health.

While fertility is front of mind for many, it seems stigmas persist. Less than one in four respondents said they feel very comfortable discussing fertility with their GP, but men are even less likely than women to seek medical guidance.

Monash IVF is committed to conducting the index survey annually so that as a nation we can measure, track and report on fertility needs and trends.

The index provides an invaluable tool to keep a close eye on how attitudes, awareness, knowledge and behaviours evolve. We hope to see a significant shift in knowledge over time.

More importantly, we believe the Index will be able to help doctors and policymakers to provide better fertility education, resources and support.

At a time when people are delaying having children, addressing these knowledge gaps isn't just about individual choices its a broader public health issue.

If young Australians are to make empowered reproductive choices, they need accurate, accessible information from an early age.

By improving fertility education and encouraging open discussions with healthcare professionals, we can help young Australians take control of their reproductive futures.