Infertility: a review of 291 infertile couples over eight years.

Two hundred and ninety-one infertile couples were studied over an 8-year period. Anovulation was the most common cause of infertility, being the causative factor in half of the patients. Ovulation induction with clomiphene or cyclic hormone therapy readily achieved pregnancy in the majority of these patients. The distribution of other etiologic factors was fairly uniform, but treatment was much less successful. Thorough evaluation of both partners is advised both for treatment purposes and as a more accurate guide to the prognosis for conception. Furthermore, even in the presence of oligospermia, ovulation induction may be successful in achieving a pregnancy.