Infertility and subfecundity in population-based samples from Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain

Background: No uniform data which give basic information on the societal bu rden of infertility and subfecundity exists in Europe. Methods: In a popula tion based survey the prevalence of subfecundity was ascertained by means o f a standardized interview with women in Denmark, Germany, Poland, Italy an d Spain. The time of unprotected intercourse (TUI) either leading or not le ading to pregnancy was applied as a uniform measure of fecundity. Populatio n-based samples of women 25-44 years of age were recruited. Results: Altoge ther 6,630 women participated in the study. With regard to the first pregna ncy, 19% of all couples had a TUI of more than 12 months, which is within t he range of most previous findings. Regarding the most recent and first TUI in individual lives, if it had occurred within previous 5 years, 23.4% ove rall did not conceive within 12 months (in Poland 33.3%, in north Italy and Germany 26.2%, in Denmark 23.3%, in Spain 18.6% and in south Italy 14.8%). Secondary subfecundity was more prevalent in Poland. When stratifying for planning of a pregnancy, the differences between countries diminished, part icularly for the most recent TUI. However, the pattern of a higher prevalen ce of subfecundity in Poland, north Italy, Denmark and Germany and a lower prevalence (<20%) in Spain and south Italy remains. Conclusions: Important differences in the prevalence of subfecundity exist between the six Europea n regions investigated. Comparisons should first consider TUIs or planned T UIs to reduce the impact of distorting factors, which are mainly due to dif fering cultures of family planning in Europe.