Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Identifying Caspases and their Motifs that Cleave Proteins During Influenza A Virus Infection
Published on: July 21, 2022
Infertility and outcomes for infertile women in Otago and Southland
Antoinette Righarts1, Nigel P Dickson, Lianne Parkin
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. antoinette.righarts@otago.ac.nz.
Aim:
To establish the burden of infertility in women residing in Otago and Southland.
Methods:
A survey of women aged 25-50 years residing in Otago and Southland was conducted to determine the proportions that experienced infertility, sought medical help and resolved their infertility, and to assess the determinants of these outcomes.
Results:
Of the 1,125 participants, 21.7% (95% CI 19.1-24.4%) had experienced infertility, defined as ever having tried unsuccessfully to conceive for at least 12 months, increasing to 25.3% (22.6-28.1%) when seeking medical help was included in this measure. Seeking medical help to conceive among those having difficulties was very common and most women resolved their first episode of infertility with a live birth. Infertility was more common with extremes of body mass index, higher education and not being in a heterosexual relationship. Infertility resolution was less likely for those over 35 years at onset of infertility and with increasing social deprivation.
Discussion:
Infertility was common in women residing in Otago and Southland. Despite high levels of infertility resolution overall, those with higher deprivation appeared disadvantaged. Further research is needed to provide national estimates and investigate factors influencing infertility outcomes.
