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%).
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
Topics
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