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.
Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
J A
JA
Collins
E A
EA
Burrows
A R
AR
Willan
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