Occupation and the follow-up of infertile couples.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of socioeconomic factors on the outcomes of infertility, including pregnancy, adoption, resolution, and loss to follow-up.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Infertility clinics in 11 teaching hospitals.

PATIENTS

Newly registered couples with infertility of > 1 year.

INTERVENTIONS

Demographic, clinical, and occupational data were recorded at registration, and events including treatment, pregnancy, adoption, and resolution were recorded during up to 7 years of follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Time to outcomes was evaluated by means of proportional hazards analyses with respect to the occurrence of conception of livebirth, adoption, resolution, or loss to follow-up.

RESULTS

[1] The clinical predictors of pregnancy included duration of infertility, pregnancy history, female partner's age, diagnosis of tubal defect or endometriosis, and treatment; [2] the likelihood of livebirth was 1.38 times greater in partnerships with a male professional; [3] adoption was 1.64 times more likely with male professional partners; [4] loss to follow-up was 1.61 times more likely if the female partner was unemployed; and [5] the likelihood of resolution was unrelated to occupation or income variables.

CONCLUSION

Socioeconomic factors, as expressed by occupation, are significantly associated with important outcomes among infertile couples.