title: Incidence of infertility and risk factors of impaired fecundity among newly married couples in a Chinese population.
abstract: The aims of this study were to obtain the incidence of infertility, to examine the causes of infertility and to explore risk factors for impaired fecundity in a rural region of northern China using a prospective follow-up design. A total of 2151 newly married couples planning to become pregnant within the next 12 months were enrolled between 2009 and 2012 from two counties of Shanxi Province in northern China. Couples were followed up for at least 1 year or until a clinical pregnancy occurred. Information about clinical pregnancy was obtained. The 12-month and 24-month infertility rates were 13.6% (95% CI 11.9 to 15.3) and 8.5% (95% CI 6.7 to 10.3), respectively. About 63% of women became pregnant within 6 months of follow up, and 86% did so within 12 months of follow up. The main causes of female infertility were ovulation disorders, fallopian tube problems and polycystic ovary syndrome. The primary cause of male infertility was sperm quality problems. Couples who used coal as cooking fuel, women with a higher body mass index, women with long-term health problems, and men who had married at later ages were more likely to have delayed pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 College Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 College Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qinqin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 College Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China. Electronic address: renag@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 College Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 College Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jufen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 College Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhiwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Huayuan Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Huayuan Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, 17 Qihelou St, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: epidemiology; incidence; infertility; newly married couples; risk factors