[A case-control study on the risk factors of female infertility]

Understanding the risk factors of female infertility among child-bearing aged women, in Nanchang area.

A hospital-based matched case-control study was carried out in Nanchang. Matched by age (+/- 2 years old), 383 pairs of cases and controls were recruited and studied. Database was established with EpiData 3.0 software. Both cases and controls were interviewed face to face, with a uniformed questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis on SPSS 11.5 to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Data from multiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of infertility would include pelvic inflammatory diseases (OR = 7.078, 95% CI: 3.462-14.467), post-abortion complications' history (OR = 3.674, 95% CI: 1.690-7.986), drug treatment history (OR= 23.576,95% CI: 12.324-45.102), dysmenorrhea (OR = 1.622, 95% CI: 1.161-2.266), pain from sexual intercourse (OR = 2.447, 95% CI: 1.201-4.986), monthly frequency of sexual intercourse (OR = 1.416, 95% CI: 1.048-1.913) and mental stress (OR = 2.146, 95% CI: 1.662-2.771). The protective factor of infertility, however, was level of education (OR = 0.522, 95% CI: 0.391-0.696).

Prevention and treatment of pelvic infection, application of strictly controlled drugs, popularization of awareness on sexual and reproductive health and relief of mental stress would be important measures in decreasing the incidence of infertility.