Infertility and the use of infertility treatments in Finland: prevalence and socio-demographic determinants 1992-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in the use of infertility treatments by time, the causes of infertility, lifetime prevalence of subfertility, and the use of infertility treatments by socio-demographic factors.


METHODS
Aggregate IVF statistics (1992-2004) and two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys (1997 and 2002).


RESULTS
Total number of IVF, ICSI and FET treatments initiated more than tripled between 1992 and 2004. The proportion of tubal injury as a cause of infertility treatment decreased over time while other female factors, male factor and multiple causes became more common. Self-reported lifetime subfertility was 16.0% in 2002 among women aged 25-64 years. Subfertility differed notably by age and education: young less educated women and older more educated women more frequently reported subfertility. Use of hormone therapy to treat subfertility (1997 and 2002) and participation in infertility treatments or medical examinations (2002) was more common among urban, highly educated and affluent women.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of infertility treatments increased and the proportions of causes of infertility have changed over time. Self-reported subfertility differed by age and education. There are socio-demographic differences in the use of infertility treatments.
Terävä
Anna-Niina
AN
School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Medisiinarinkatu 3, 33520 Tampere, Finland. anna-niina.terava@uta.fi
Gissler
Mika
M
Hemminki
Elina
E
Luoto
Riitta
R
D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends