Prevalence and risk factors of infertility in Ukraine: results a multicenter study (2019-2021)

Abstract

The aim: To assess the current prevalence and identify the risk factors for infertility among couples of reproductive age in Ukraine. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentre cohort study was based on reproductive health surveillance data among married populations from January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2021 in Ukraine. Definitions of infertility were used from the WHO. Results: Among all the 6,885 participants in this study, the prevalence of infertility was 25.4%. The prevalence of primary infertility was 5.8%, and the prevalence of secondary infertility was 19.6%. The levels of infertility in the regions of Ukraine had significant differences. It was found that among those women who had primary infertility, more were from rural than urban, while for secondary infertility women the situation was reversed. Infertility was associated with age, history of gynecological surgery, decreased ovarian reserve, age of marriage, long-term air-conditioning environment, and history of endometriosis. There were differences among factors associated with infertility, primary infertility and secondary infertility. The factors associated with primary infertility were age of marriage, age of first sexual intercourse, long-term air-conditioning environment, decreased ovarian reserve and age. A factors associated with secondary infertility were history of gynecological surgery and decreased ovarian reserve. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed high level the prevalence rate of infertility among couples of reproductive age in Ukraine is high. This applies to both primary and secondary infertility of married women. The most women who had experienced infertility have not sought medical or professional help for the problem.