title: Infertility and outcomes for infertile women in Otago and Southland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the burden of infertility in women residing in Otago and Southland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of women aged 25-50 years residing in Otago and Southland was conducted to determine the proportions that experienced infertility, sought medical help and resolved their infertility, and to assess the determinants of these outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,125 participants, 21.7% (95% CI 19.1-24.4%) had experienced infertility, defined as ever having tried unsuccessfully to conceive for at least 12 months, increasing to 25.3% (22.6-28.1%) when seeking medical help was included in this measure. Seeking medical help to conceive among those having difficulties was very common and most women resolved their first episode of infertility with a live birth. Infertility was more common with extremes of body mass index, higher education and not being in a heterosexual relationship. Infertility resolution was less likely for those over 35 years at onset of infertility and with increasing social deprivation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infertility was common in women residing in Otago and Southland. Despite high levels of infertility resolution overall, those with higher deprivation appeared disadvantaged. Further research is needed to provide national estimates and investigate factors influencing infertility outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. antoinette.righarts@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Righarts
authors.forename: Nigel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: Lianne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.forename: Wayne R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Gillett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D015995:Prevalence; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D061685:Time-to-Pregnancy