Occupation and the follow-up of infertile couples.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of socioeconomic factors on the outcomes of infertility, including pregnancy, adoption, resolution, and loss to follow-up.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Infertility clinics in 11 teaching hospitals.


METHODS
Newly registered couples with infertility of > 1 year.


METHODS
Demographic, clinical, and occupational data were recorded at registration, and events including treatment, pregnancy, adoption, and resolution were recorded during up to 7 years of follow-up.


METHODS
Time to outcomes was evaluated by means of proportional hazards analyses with respect to the occurrence of conception of livebirth, adoption, resolution, or loss to follow-up.


RESULTS
[1] The clinical predictors of pregnancy included duration of infertility, pregnancy history, female partner's age, diagnosis of tubal defect or endometriosis, and treatment; [2] the likelihood of livebirth was 1.38 times greater in partnerships with a male professional; [3] adoption was 1.64 times more likely with male professional partners; [4] loss to follow-up was 1.61 times more likely if the female partner was unemployed; and [5] the likelihood of resolution was unrelated to occupation or income variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Socioeconomic factors, as expressed by occupation, are significantly associated with important outcomes among infertile couples.
Collins
J A
JA
Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Burrows
E A
EA
Willan
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007246:Infertility / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies