Incidence of infertility and risk factors of impaired fecundity among newly married couples in a Chinese population. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meng, Qinqin; Ren, Aiguo; Zhang, Le; Liu, Jufen; Li, Zhiwen; Yang, Yan; Li, Rong; Ma, Le
• Is Part Of: Reproductive biomedicine online. Volume 30:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 100
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: epidemiology -- incidence -- infertility -- newly married couples -- risk factors; Human reproductive technology -- Periodicals; Human embryo -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; 616.692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.10.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-6483

Abstract

Highlights: Infertility rates vary with different definitions and study designs. Incidence of infertility was obtained from a prospective follow-up study. Couples who used coal as cooking fuel were more likely to have impaired fecundity. Higher BMI and long-term health problems in women tended to reduce the fecundity. Men who had married at later ages were more likely to have delayed pregnancies. Abstract: The aims of this study were to obtain the incidence of infertility, to examine the causes of infertility and to explore risk factors for impaired fecundity in a rural region of northern China using a prospective follow-up design. A total of 2151 newly married couples planning to become pregnant within the next 12 months were enrolled between 2009 and 2012 from two counties of Shanxi Province in northern China. Couples were followed up for at least 1 year or until a clinical pregnancy occurred. Information about clinical pregnancy was obtained. The 12-month and 24-month infertility rates were 13.6% (95% CI 11.9 to 15.3) and 8.5% (95% CI 6.7 to 10.3), respectively. About 63% of women became pregnant within 6 months of follow up, and 86% did so within 12 months of follow up. The main causes of female infertility were ovulation disorders, fallopian tube problems and polycystic ovary syndrome. The primary cause of male infertility was sperm quality problems. Couples who used coal as cooking fuel, women with a higher body mass index, women with long-term health problems, and men who had married at later ages were more likely to have delayed pregnancies.