The fertility impact of spousal separation.

The impact of spousal separation on marital fertility in a natural fertility context is investigated. REPMOD, a procedure for computer simulation of reproductive processes, is employed. A given length of separation affects fertility more, the less it overlaps with time during which the woman is not at risk of conception. Thus the "efficiency" of separation as a constraint on fertility increases as its duration increases, the duration of postpartum amenorrhea decreases, and fecundability decreases. Effects of spousal separation in actual situations can be estimated using results of these simulations as inputs.