Rate My Professor Jacky Boivin

Professor Jacky Boivin is Professor of Health Psychology and Chair of the School of Psychology at Cardiff University. She obtained her BA with Honours in Psychology (1986), MA in Clinical Psychology (1990), and PhD in Psychology (1995) from Concordia University, Canada. As a scientist-practitioner, her research investigates psychological processes underlying the desire and timing of parenthood, adaptation to conception success or failure, reciprocal links between psychological factors such as stress and lifestyle and fertility outcomes, and the development, evaluation, and implementation of tools and interventions to support individuals trying to conceive and stakeholders in reproductive health.

Boivin directs the Cardiff Fertility Studies research group and chairs Women’s Health Research Wales. She developed the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) tool (2011, Fertility and Sterility), available in 44 languages and used internationally in practice and research, and the FertiSTAT fertility awareness tool with 85% accuracy. Key publications include international estimates of infertility prevalence (2007, Human Reproduction), emotional distress meta-analysis in assisted reproduction (2011, BMJ), evolution of psychology in infertility (2015, Fertility and Sterility), fertility education effects (2016, Human Reproduction), and recent contributions to polycystic ovary syndrome guidelines (2023, Fertility and Sterility) and fertility awareness trials (2026, Reproductive BioMedicine Online). Funded by ESRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, WHO, charities, and industry, her multidisciplinary work with global partners informs WHO infertility guidelines, reduces treatment dropout through interventions like Positive Reappraisal Coping, enhances fertility awareness, and promotes patient-centered reproductive care. She teaches research design, statistics, stress, supervises postgraduates, and provides practitioner education at European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology meetings.