Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2021 Jun;61(3):439-447. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13323. Epub 2021 Feb 28.
Studies in southern New Zealand indicate that up to a quarter of women experienced infertility, likely due to delay in childbearing. However, these findings may not be generalisable to the whole population.
To assess the lifetime prevalence of infertility and evidence for disparities for New Zealand men and women in a nationally representative sample.
In 2014/15 a general health survey with a module on sexual and reproductive health was conducted among New Zealand residents aged 16-74 years; 3792 men and 5222 women provided information on infertility.
RESULT(S): There were 8.2% (95% CI 7.1-9.4%) of men and 12.5% (11.3-13.8%) of women who had experienced infertility; among fertility-tested women this was 15.4% (14.0-16.9%). Prevalence peaked in the 35-44 year age group (14.3% for men, 19.1% for women and 20.8% for fertility-tested women). Estimates for European, Māori and Asian ethnicities were similar. Pacific men and women had higher relative risks: 2.37 (95% CI 1.51-3.71) and 1.76 (1.27-2.44), respectively, compared with Europeans. Medical help was sought by 69.3% (95% CI 62.4-75.5%) of infertile men and 68.2% (63.1-72.9%) of women; this was significantly lower for Māori and Pacific.
Infertility levels for those of European ethnicity were similar to studies in southern New Zealand, and in other high-income countries. However, infertility levels were just as high for Māori, and higher for Pacific people, despite experiencing fertility at younger ages. Focusing on reducing causes of infertility other than delayed childbearing would likely contribute to addressing this health disparity.
新西兰南部的研究表明，多达四分之一的女性经历过不孕不育，这可能是由于生育年龄推迟所致。然而，这些发现可能不适用于整个人群。
在一个具有全国代表性的样本中，评估新西兰男性和女性一生中不孕不育的患病率，并评估其存在的差异证据。
在 2014/15 年，对年龄在 16-74 岁的新西兰居民进行了一项关于性健康和生殖健康的综合健康调查；3792 名男性和 5222 名女性提供了关于不孕不育的信息。
有 8.2%（95%CI7.1-9.4%）的男性和 12.5%（11.3-13.8%）的女性经历过不孕不育；在接受生育能力测试的女性中，这一比例为 15.4%（14.0-16.9%）。患病率在 35-44 岁年龄组达到峰值（男性为 14.3%，女性为 19.1%，接受生育能力测试的女性为 20.8%）。欧洲、毛利人和亚洲种族的估计值相似。太平洋地区的男性和女性的相对风险更高：分别为 2.37（95%CI1.51-3.71）和 1.76（1.27-2.44），与欧洲人相比。69.3%（95%CI62.4-75.5%）的不孕男性和 68.2%（63.1-72.9%）的不孕女性寻求了医疗帮助；毛利人和太平洋地区的这一比例明显较低。
具有欧洲种族背景的人的不孕不育水平与新西兰南部以及其他高收入国家的研究相似。然而，毛利人和太平洋地区的不孕不育水平同样高，尽管他们的生育年龄更小。专注于减少除生育年龄推迟以外导致不孕不育的原因，可能有助于解决这一健康差异。
