Socioeconomic and racial disparities among infertility patients seeking care.
OBJECTIVE
To examine sociodemographic differences based on patient race/ethnicity among infertility patients seeking care in a state with mandated coverage of infertility treatment.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
University-hospital-based fertility center.


METHODS
A total of 1,500 consecutive women who presented for infertility care.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Self-report questionnaire assessing patient race/ethnicity, diagnosis, income, education level, and duration of infertility before seeking care.


RESULTS
African American women experienced a significantly longer duration of infertility before seeking care compared with Caucasian women (4.3 vs. 3.3 years, respectively; P=.03). With regard to infertility diagnosis, a significantly greater proportion of African American and Hispanic women had tubal factor infertility compared with Caucasian women (24.0% and 27.3% vs. 5.3%, respectively; P=.001). Looking at the highest level of education attained by patients, a significantly greater proportion of African American and Hispanic women had less than a 4-year college degree compared with Caucasian women (48% and 40.9% vs. 13.2%, respectively; P<.001). Examining the gross annual household income of patients, a significantly greater proportion of African American and Hispanic women had household incomes below $100,000 compared with Caucasian women (72% and 68.2% vs. 37.3%, respectively; P<.01).


CONCLUSIONS
African American women are more likely to seek infertility treatment after a longer duration of failed conception compared with Caucasian women. Furthermore, African American, and Hispanic women are more likely to have tubal factor infertility, a lower education level, and a lower household income compared with Caucasian women.
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. tjain@uic.edu
Tarun
T
Jain
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000191:economics* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology