The incidence, characteristics, and prognosis of patients whose infertility is unexplained.
Review of the case records of 500 consecutive couples attending one Scottish infertility clinic revealed a group of patients whose infertility remained unexplained after completion of a standard protocol of investigations. The incidence of this condition in the clinic population was 24%. Various patient characteristics were examined, and no differences from patients with a detectable, organic cause for their infertility were found. Life-table analysis was used to provide a prognostic guide for such couples. About 34% of those with primary infertility and 21% of those with secondary infertility will remain infertile after 9 years of attempting to conceive.
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012606:Scotland; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012923:Social Class