Prevalence and Risk Factors of Infertility in a Southern Port City of Iran

Infertility is a universal problem with very limited scientific information relating to the factors that place men and women at risk of infertility.

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of infertility in Bandar Abbas, a Southern port city of Iran.

We conducted this cross-sectional study using a face-to-face questionnaire survey from September 2017 to March 2018 among 1,500 women at childbearing age.

Data from 1469 valid questionnaires were finally assessed. There were 224 cases of current infertility with an incidence of 15.24% (95% CI, 14.79% - 15.44%), including 151 primary (10.27%; 95% CI, 10.09% - 11.14%) and 73 secondary (4.96%; 95% CI, 4.76% - 5.09%) infertilities. According to the univariate logistic regression analysis, age of men and women, women’s occupation, men engaged in high-temperature professions, age at marriage, menstrual cycle pattern, previous contraceptive usage, history of infertility in family, previous abortions, previous cesarean sections, number of pregnancies, previous vaginal delivery, smoking, physical activity, and BMI were significantly associated with infertility (all P  ≤  0.05). To determine the independent risk factors for infertility, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Advanced age, heavy physical activity, obesity, men engaged in high-temperature professions, previous abortions, and previous cesarean sections were the risk factors for infertility. The number of pregnancies and previous vaginal deliveries were protective factors.

Although infertility risk factors are complex and multiple, and the investigated region does not represent all areas of Iran, the results can contribute to the overall reproductive health improvement among Iranians.