Epidemiology and Health Related Quality of Life in Infertile Females

Background: Female infertility is a growing problem. Numerous risk factors are incriminated. Also infertility has many effects on the individual. Its effect on the Health related quality of life (HRQOL) among Egyptian females has not been sufficiently studied.
Aim: This study aimed to study epidemiology and identify the main risk factors associated with infertility among Egyptian females and assess the health related quality of life among these patients including physical, psychological and social domains
Subjects and Methods: A Case control study was conducted on females attending outpatient clinic at two tertiary hospitals in Cairo. An interview questionnaire was designed and administered. 468 cases (infertile) and 450 (fertile) controls were interviewed. Data was analyzed using SPSS program version18.
Results: Significant risk factors for infertility included age at marriage more than 30, BMI more than 30, alcohol intake, exposure to X-ray, radiotherapy, lead, domestic pesticides, chemicals, history of congenital malformation, family history of hereditary disease, abnormal pattern of menstruation. 12.4% of the cases had poor or very poor HRQOL in comparison to 3.1% of the controls. Cases showed lower scores than controls in all three domains of QOL.Conclusions: There are numerous risk factors affecting infertility in the Egyptian society, many of which are preventable. Infertility and its related health conditions have a negative effect on all domains of HRQOL. Recommendations: Care should be taken to avoid the risk factors. Infertile females should be offered suitable supportive measures as counseling and patient centered care throughout their course of treatment.