An evaluation of etiologic factors and therapy in 665 infertile couples

Six hundred and sixty-five unselected infertile couples were investigated and treated in a private clinic during a 15-year span. Male infertility factors were involved in 28%, ovulatory disturbances in 31.5%, tubal factors in 16.3%, and undiscovered factors in 17.6% (117 couples). In 50 couples (7.5%) fertility-reducing factors were found in both partners, with a 14% pregnancy rate, compared with a 54.3% pregnancy rate when only a female factor was involved. The chances of successful treatment of females decline steadily with age, correlating with the fact that the longer the exposure time before the start of treatment, the less the chance of pregnancy. Investigation following 1 year of exposure should be advised. Pregnancy rates were 50% in ovulatory disturbances and 30% with tubal factors. Predictably, a progressive increase in the pregnancy rate was noted during the span of this study.