Abstract overview:
Oocyte cryopreservation (OC) is a fertility preservation method in Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART). It is used by women with medical problems and those who delay childbearing for personal (social) reasons. Numerous studies have explored healthcare professionals' knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards OC, as they a) often delay childbearing themselves and may personally consider the method and b) influence public knowledge and beliefs through counselling.

Aims and objectives:
The study aimed to investigate Greek midwives' knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards OC

Method:
An anonymous online survey was conducted among Greek midwives. The questionnaire included 22 items regarding demographics, professional experience, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards OC.

Results:
The sample consisted of 153 midwives, with a mean age of 39.8 (SD=10.9) years. Only 20% of participants reported previous work experience in Units offering ART, and 14% had received relevant academic training, yet 63% expressed interest in ART. While over 70% answered knowledge-based questions correctly, significant gaps emerged, particularly concerning maternal age's impact on pregnancy outcomes and cryopreservation success. Additionally, 60.2% expressed uncertainty in providing counselling on OC, and 34.6% acknowledged that their personal beliefs would or could influence their professional guidance. Limited awareness of the economic factors and the social implications of OC was also evident.

Conclusion:
The findings underscore the necessity of recognizing OC as both a technological advancement in ART and a critical component of reproductive health care. Given the midwives’ pivotal role in family planning, it is imperative to integrate OC education into midwifery curricula. This could empower midwives to provide evidence-based, unbiased counselling and contribute effectively to reproductive health services in Greece.