title: Worldwide patterns of infertility: is Africa different?
abstract: The World Health Organisation sponsored a multicentre, collaborative investigation of a standard approach to evaluating infertile couples. The study was conducted between 1979 and 1984 in thirty-three medical centres in twenty-five countries throughout the developed and developing world. Over 5800 couples completed the investigation. African centres had a pattern of infertility different from those in other developing regions or the developed countries. African couples were more likely than those from elsewhere to have secondary infertility or longer duration, a history of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy complications, and infertility diagnoses (such as bilateral tubal occlusion or pelvic adhesions) suggestive of previous genital infections.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cates
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D001208:Asia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications