Seeking medical help to conceive.
BACKGROUND
The demand for therapies to assist conception is growing in a number of countries including Canada. This study provides estimates of the number and characteristics of couples who sought medical help for conception and identifies the interventions and/or techniques they used.


METHODS
The data are from the Infertility Component of the 2009/2010 Canadian Community Health Survey. The analysis examines couples in which the woman was aged 18 to 44, resulting in 3,656 respondents. Percentages, means and confidence intervals were calculated. Two logistic regression models were run to estimate associations between socio-demographic characteristics and seeking medical help to conceive.


RESULTS
About three in four couples reported having tried to become pregnant. Of these, 15% had sought medical help for conception. Among those who had sought help for conception, 68% reported tracking the menstrual cycle and ovulation; 42% reported using fertility-enhancing drugs; 19% reported using assisted reproductive techniques; and 29% reported "other" medical treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the trend toward delayed childbearing, the demand for medical help to conceive may be greater in the future.
Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6. tracey.bushnik@statcan.gc.ca
Tracey
T
Bushnik
Jocelynn
J
Cook
Edward
E
Hughes
Suzanne
S
Tough
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D055815:Young Adult