Reproductive Health of Couples of Childbearing Age: a Community Based Prospective Cohort Study

Overview

This community based prospective cohort study was established to investigate the fecundability of couples of childbearing age. Data are collected regarding age, body mass index, education, menstrual regularity as well as childbearing history. Results of routine examination of leucorrhea, blood glucose, liver function of the female spouse, and semen analysis of the male spouse are obtained from the National Free Pre-conception Check-up Projects (NFPCP) in China. Couples recruited will be followed every 6 months for at least 1 year, and their time to pregnancy as well as behavior of seeking medical care would be recorded. Blood sample and/or information of antral follicle count would be collected from participants who fail to conceive after 12 months of attempts.

Infertility is a heavy burden on families, with important implications for individuals and public health. In the last decades, the trend of delaying marriage and childbearing has further exacerbated the burden of infertility. From February 2010 to November 2011, a large-scale population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in northern and eastern China. It was reported that the overall prevalence of infertility was 15.5% among women 'at risk' of pregnancy, and 25.0% among women attempting to become pregnant in China. The prevalence of infertility was surprisingly high and aroused our great attention. To further explore the fecundability and associated risk factors in current China, this community based prospective cohort study was established. Recruitment will be performed at cites of National Free Pre-conception Check-up Projects (NFPCP). Besides of the information of sociodemographic characteristics and childbearing history of couples, their results of check-ups will also be obtained. By regular follow-ups, valid data of time to pregnancy will be collected. A prospective cohort would provide an opportunity to reveal the incidence of infertility, and explore the underlying risk factors of infertility, as well as the demand of assisted reproductive technology.

Conditions