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National, Regional, and Global Trends in Infertility Prevalence Since 1990: A Systematic Analysis of 277 Health Surveys

PLoS Medicine · 2012 · Vol. 9(12) · pp. e1001356–e1001356

Maya Mascarenhas(University of California, San Francisco)Seth Flaxman(Carnegie Mellon University)Ties Boerma(World Health Organization)Sheryl Vanderpoel(World Health Organization)Gretchen A Stevens✉(World Health Organization)

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Abstract

We analyzed demographic and reproductive household survey data to reveal global patterns and trends in infertility. Independent from population growth and worldwide declines in the preferred number of children, we found little evidence of changes in infertility over two decades, apart from in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Further research is needed to identify the etiological causes of these patterns and trends.

Reproductive Health and Technologies Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy Ovarian function and disordersInfertilityDemographyMedicineLive birthPregnancyPopulationEuropean unionEnvironmental healthBiology

MeSH terms

AdultAfricaAmericasAsiaBayes TheoremEuropeFemaleHealth SurveysHumansInfertilityPregnancyGlobal HealthPrevalenceOceaniaLive Birth

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
World Health Organization
University of Washington

Citations

2,294

FWCI

62.35

field-weighted impact

References

Percentile

100%

vs. same field & year

Citations per year

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The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Revised Glossary on ART Terminology, 2009

Human Reproduction · 2009 · 1,026 citations

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