Publication:

Epidemiological risk factors associated with infertility

Infertility is a serious and stigmatic health issue especially in a country like India. On one side India is dealing with population overgrowth and limited resources while on other side problem of infertility haunts many reproductive age group couples. According to world health organisation (WHO), one in every fourth couple in the developing country is suffering from infertility. The globally prevalence of infertility is 10-15%. Infertility can be primary or secondary. Male or female factors or both can cause infertility. Prevalence of infertility varies with diversity in the customs, traditions, climatic condition and health status. In addition, prevalence of infertility is increasing due to depression, anxiety, stress, and other physiological conditions. Few preventable conditions such as infection, lifestyle factors, advancing maternal age, age at marriage, postponement in child bearing for more than 1 year or more, socio-economic status, and occupational hazards also predispose to infertility. The main challenge of infertility is to estimate the actual prevalence of infertility due to varying definitions of infertility. The magnitude of the problem calls for urgent action, particularly when in the majority of cases the infertility is avoidable.