Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research study is to explore how individuals communicate with their social network and spouse as they experience infertility.

Procedures to be followed: You will be asked to take an online survey at a computer of your choice. This survey should take you approximately 30 minutes, and you may be contacted again in 3 months to take a similar survey (also lasting approximately 30 minutes). In addition, if you think your spouse might also be interested in participating, we will provide the necessary information for him/her to take the study as well (his/her responses will be treated separate from yours, so you will each take the survey independently). Your spouse will not have access to your responses, and you will not have access to his/her responses. Your responses will be paired for analysis through a 10 character code that will be created for each of you based on demographic information. Although it is helpful for us to have both partners’ responses, your spouse does not need to participate in order for you to take part in this study.

Discomforts and Risks: There are no risks in participating in this research beyond those experienced in everyday life, although some of the questions are personal and might cause minor emotional discomfort. If you experience discomfort and want to stop participating, you may do so at any time.

Benefits: You might learn more about yourself by participating in this study. Answering these questions might help you have a better understanding of your social and marital relationships by encouraging you to think about characteristics of these relationships. By seeing the types of questions asked in the survey, you also might realize that others have had similar experiences as you.

Duration: It will take about 30 minutes to complete the survey today, and 30 minutes to complete a forthcoming survey (approximately 3 months from now).

Statement of Confidentiality: Your participation in this research is confidential. If both you and your spouse are participating in the study, please be sure to fill out the surveys individually from each other. Your spouse will not have access to your responses. The survey does not ask for any information that would identify who the responses belong to. Penn State’s Office for Research Protections, the Social Science Institutional Review Board and the Office for Human Research Protections in the Department of Health and Human Services may review records related to this research study. In the event of any publication or presentation resulting from the research, no personally identifiable information will be shared because your name is in no way linked to your responses. Please note that your confidentiality will be safe to the degree permitted by the technology used. Specifically, no guarantees can be made regarding the interception of data sent via the internet by any third parties. All of our databases have SSL level encryption, which is the same type of encryption used to protect your credit card information on online websites.

Right to Ask Questions: Please contact Keli Ryan Steuber at (609) 405-7815 with questions, complaints or concerns about this research. You can also call this number if you feel this study has harmed you in any way. Questions about your rights as a research participant may be directed to Penn State University’s Office for Research Protections at (814) 865-1775.

Voluntary Participation: Your decision to be in this research is voluntary. You can stop at any time. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to answer. Refusal to take part in or withdrawing from this study will involve no penalty or loss of benefits you would receive otherwise. Completion of the survey implies that you have read the information in this form and consent to take part in the research.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research study is to explore how individuals communicate with their social network and spouse as they experience infertility. Procedures to be followed: You will be asked to take an online survey at a computer of your choice. This survey should take you approximately 30 minutes, and you may be contacted again in 3 months to take a similar survey (also lasting approximately 30 minutes). In addition, if you think your spouse might also be interested in participating, we will provide the necessary information for him/her to take the study as well (his/her responses will be treated separate from yours, so you will each take the survey independently). Your spouse will not have access to your responses, and you will not have access to his/her responses. Your responses will be paired for analysis through a 10 character code that will be created for each of you based on demographic information. Although it is helpful for us to have both partners’ responses, your spouse does not need to participate in order for you to take part in this study. Discomforts and Risks: There are no risks in participating in this research beyond those experienced in everyday life, although some of the questions are personal and might cause minor emotional discomfort. If you experience discomfort and want to stop participating, you may do so at any time. Benefits: You might learn more about yourself by participating in this study. Answering these questions might help you have a better understanding of your social and marital relationships by encouraging you to think about characteristics of these relationships. By seeing the types of questions asked in the survey, you also might realize that others have had similar experiences as you. Duration: It will take about 30 minutes to complete the survey today, and 30 minutes to complete a forthcoming survey (approximately 3 months from now). Statement of Confidentiality: Your participation in this research is confidential. If both you and your spouse are participating in the study, please be sure to fill out the surveys individually from each other. Your spouse will not have access to your responses. The survey does not ask for any information that would identify who the responses belong to. Penn State’s Office for Research Protections, the Social Science Institutional Review Board and the Office for Human Research Protections in the Department of Health and Human Services may review records related to this research study. In the event of any publication or presentation resulting from the research, no personally identifiable information will be shared because your name is in no way linked to your responses. Please note that your confidentiality will be safe to the degree permitted by the technology used. Specifically, no guarantees can be made regarding the interception of data sent via the internet by any third parties. All of our databases have SSL level encryption, which is the same type of encryption used to protect your credit card information on online websites. Right to Ask Questions: Please contact Keli Ryan Steuber at (609) 405-7815 with questions, complaints or concerns about this research. You can also call this number if you feel this study has harmed you in any way. Questions about your rights as a research participant may be directed to Penn State University’s Office for Research Protections at (814) 865-1775. Voluntary Participation: Your decision to be in this research is voluntary. You can stop at any time. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to answer. Refusal to take part in or withdrawing from this study will involve no penalty or loss of benefits you would receive otherwise. Completion of the survey implies that you have read the information in this form and consent to take part in the research.   I agree to take this survey. Please take me to the survey site.

I do not agree to take this survey. Please allow me to exit this survey site.