Prevalence of primary infertility in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2004-2005

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of lifetime and current primary infertility in Iran. The study was conducted in 2004-5 in all the 28 provinces of Iran. A cluster sampling method was used to select 10 783 women aged 19 to 49 years for the survey. Lifetime primary infertility was defined based on 1 of 2 contraception scenarios immediately after marriage to find experience of infertility despite 1 year of unprotected intercourse. The term "current primary infertility" designated a woman who, in addition to meeting the definition of lifetime infertility, had been unable to conceive up to the study time. A complex sampling design and SVY commands in the software package STATA 8.0 were used to derive 95% confidence intervals. A history of lifetime primary infertility was present in 24.9% of the subjects (95% CI: 23.5-26.2), and the prevalence of current primary infertility was 3.4% (95% CI: 3.0-3.8). As for age trends in lifetime primary infertility, the highest prevalence rates were observed in individuals with the lowest age at marriage. Minimum prevalence (17.2%) occurred with marriage age of 21 to 26 years, and the rates rose with higher age at marriage. About one fourth of the Iranian couples experience primary infertility at some point in their lives and 3.4% suffer from this problem at any time. For a correct interpretation of prevalence rates and the implications in terms of health care and service delivery, factors such as age at marriage and the couple's fertility potential must be taken into consideration.