ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FEMALE INFERTILITY AND AGRICULTURAL WORK HISTORY

Lifetime industrial and occupational histories of women with a medical ly-confirmed diagnosis of infertility (n = 281) were compared to a gro up of postpartum women (n = 216) for risks of infertility. Controlling for age of first pregnancy or self-report of infertility, date of out come, cigarette use, and employment in other types of industries, wome n were at increased risk of infertility if they had worked in industri es associated with agriculture (OR = 7.0, 95% CI 2.3-20.8; cases = 11. 7%, controls = 1.9%). Among the occupations in which women worked prio r to outcome, only those in agriculture were at significantly elevated risk (adj. OR = 11.3, CI 2.6-48.8; cases = 10.0%, controls = 0.9%). A mong those who resided on a farm, the risk of infertility was signific antly increased (adj. OR = 1.8, CI 1.2-2.7; cases 37.4%, controls = 25 .8%) although yearly duration of farm residence was not (adj. OR = 0.9 9, CI 0.95-1.03). Farm residence did not alter the OR seen in agricult ural industries or occupations. The risk of being diagnosed with an ov ulatory or tubal factor increased 4-16-fold among those who had worked in agricultural industries or occupations. These data suggest that, a s has been established in men, agriculturally-related exposures may be a significant risk for infertility in women. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc .