title: Socioeconomic profile of couples seeking the public healthcare system (SUS) for infertility treatment.
abstract: The number of couples seeking assisted reproduction services in pursuit of the dream of conceiving a child is growing. In developing countries 10 to 15% of couples of childbearing age cannot bear a child by natural means and the impossibility of conceiving a child has a significant impact on the health and well-being of the couple. The aim of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic profile and the main causes of infertility of couples seeking assisted reproduction treatment through the public healthcare system.
  
  
  
  We analyzed 600 medical records of couples who sought infertility treatment at the public healthcare system, and we divided them into three groups according to age: 35 years, 35 to 39, and 40 years or more. In each group we analyzed the cause of infertility, the number of children of the spouses, the education level and family income.
  
  
  
  The main cause of infertility was male-related in 34%, followed by tubal factor in 31.5%. We found that 56% of the women were less than 35 years old and 58% of the couples earned less than 3 minimum wages.
  
  
  
  The profile of the couples was: low-income, low education and less than 35 years of age. The cost of assisted reproductive treatment is still high, being restricted to couples of higher socioeconomic statuses. An effective public healthcare policy could minimize this problem by improving the quality of care for couples seeking infertility treatment at the public healthcare system.
authors: Centro de Infertilidade e Medicina Fetal do Norte Fluminense / Departamento de Medicina Reprodutiva do Hospital Escola Alvaro Alvim. Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ, Brazil.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Tavares
authors: Centro de Infertilidade e Medicina Fetal do Norte Fluminense / Departamento de Medicina Reprodutiva do Hospital Escola Alvaro Alvim. Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ, Brazil.
authors: Gisele
authors: G
authors: Cunha
authors: Centro de Infertilidade e Medicina Fetal do Norte Fluminense / Departamento de Medicina Reprodutiva do Hospital Escola Alvaro Alvim. Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ, Brazil.
authors: Lilian
authors: L
authors: Aguiar
authors: Faculdade de Medicina de Campos dos Goytacazes. Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ, Brazil.
authors: Shaytner Campos
authors: SC
authors: Duarte
authors: Centro de Infertilidade e Medicina Fetal do Norte Fluminense / Departamento de Medicina Reprodutiva do Hospital Escola Alvaro Alvim. Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ, Brazil.
authors: Nilza
authors: N
authors: Cardinot
authors: Prefeitura Municipal de Campos dos Goytacazes. Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ, Brazil.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Bastos
authors: Centro de Infertilidade e Medicina Fetal do Norte Fluminense / Departamento de Medicina Reprodutiva do Hospital Escola Alvaro Alvim. Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ, Brazil.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Coelho
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007246:Infertility / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Assisted human reproduction; Infertility; Socioeconomic status