---
title: How common is infertility in older women and what conditions are linked to it?
description: Permanent infertility affects 2.6% of women aged 40-42, and subfertility affects 7.7%. Premenstrual tension is more common in infertile women (almost 40%) tha
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/infertility-and-subfertility-in-norwegian-women-aged-40-42-prevalence-and-risk-1996/
---

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- How common is infertility in older women and what conditions are linked to it?

Survey study, 1996

# How common is infertility in older women and what conditions are linked to it?

Permanent infertility affects 2.6% of women aged 40-42, and subfertility affects 7.7%. Premenstrual tension is more common in infertile women (almost 40%) than in fertile women (29.4%).

 Moderate study design

4034 women aged 40-42 in Norway (78% response rate from 5139 invited)

## What they did

Cross-sectional health screening of 4034 women out of 5139 invited (78% response rate) aged 40-42 in one Norwegian county. Included clinical screening and questionnaires about reproductive history and infertility.

## What they found

Permanent primary infertility in 2.6%, subfertility in 7.7%. Infertile women more often had pelvic inflammatory disease (32% versus 11%), amenorrhea (13% versus 3.3%), and premenstrual tension (almost 40% versus 29.4%) compared to fertile women.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual tension is more common in women who cannot get pregnant, suggesting a link. However, we don't know if one causes the other or if both are caused by something else. The study included a large population from one country but cannot prove cause and effect.

2.6%

permanent primary infertility

7.7%

subfertility

almost 40%

premenstrual tension in infertile women

## About the study

Original title Infertility and subfertility in Norwegian women aged 40-42. Prevalence and risk factors Authors Sundby J, Schei B Journal Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Year 1996 Study design Survey study What was tested None (observational) Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/00016349609054712](https://doi.org/10.3109/00016349609054712)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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