Infertility in Mazandaran province - north of Iran: an etiological study

BACKGROUND The prevalence and etiology of infertility are not similar in different parts of the world. There are only few reports of this topic in Iran. OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to determine the clinical patterns and major causes of infertility in Mazandaran province in north of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical records of 3734 consecutive couples attending two infertility clinics in Mazandaran province, from 2003 to 2008, were reviewed. The couples had not had a viable birth after at least 1 year of unprotected intercourse and were fully investigated. RESULTS Of the entire samples, 78.7% had primary infertility and 21.3% had secondary infertility. The mean duration of infertility in couples was 5.7±4 years. The etiology of infertility in couples revealed; male factor in 38.9%, female factor in 34.7%, combined factors in 14.6% and undetermined cause in 11.8%. CONCLUSION In this study, delayed attendance of infertile couples to the infertility clinic was found. Therefore, there is a need to revise public health program on infertility to focus on the education and prevention of infertility and its risk factors.