Thoughts about childbirth provoke many pleasant emotions, but also unpleasant emotions, including the fear of childbirth. Numerous negative consequences are associated with fear of childbirth, which is why it is important to recognise it early on and begin with intervention on time. Lower self-efficacy, external locus of control and lower dispositional optimism are associated with higher levels of fear of childbirth in pregnant women. However, research with women who were not pregnant and did not have children remains scarce. Since in this population, the fear of childbirth is dispositional and not situational as in pregnant population, generalising results of the research carried out with pregnant population is not completely possible. The goal of this research was to examine thoughts and fears associated with childbirth, the prevalence and predictors of fear of childbirth and its association with plans for pregnancy in young adult women who are not pregnant and do not have child. Young adult women who were not pregnant and did not have children participated in online research (N = 1146). Participants filled out the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (Version A), the General Self-efficacy Scale, Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale and the Optimism-Pessimism Scale. Young adult women most often expressed fear of possible complications, fear of pain, and concern for the child's health. In this sample, 22.8 % of young adult women who were not pregnant showed clinically significant fear of childbirth. Significant predictors for higher levels of fear of childbirth were low dispositional optimism and low self-efficacy, while the predictive value of the locus of control did not turn out to be significant. Young adult women who express higher levels of fear of childbirth are more likely to delay and avoid pregnancy and more often do not think about pregnancy compared to women who express lower levels of fear of childbirth. Results of this research can serve as guidelines in creating preventive programs and interventions. In order to reduce levels of fear and prevent possible consequences, it is necessary to further educate young adult women.