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Journal Article 2011; 32(6): 799-804 PubMed PMID: 22286797 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female:epidemiology, Infertility, Male:epidemiology, Male, Poland:epidemiology, Surveys and Questionnaires,.   

OBJECTIVE: Infertility seems to be a great worldwide problem. Many publications present the epidemiology of infertility, but the percentage distribution of factors responsible for infertility varies significantly. The objective was to define infertility profiles in Poland assessed according to the information provided by 4 large infertility centers: Bialystok, Poznan, Szczecin and Warsaw.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicenter study was performed. Couples with primary infertility, attending one of the four centers in Poland, were asked to fulfill a questionnaire. Overall 1517 questionaires were analysed: Bialystok - 468, Poznan - 325, Szczecin - 341, Warsaw - 383. Only semen analyses fulfilling WHO Manual 1999 criteria were used in the study and were afterwards compared with 2010 WHO standards.

RESULTS: Results from 4 Polish centers showed that the average age of infertile women was 31.41 years and of infertile men 33.2 years. The mean duration of infertility equaled 3.31 years. Among 1517 surveyed women, no pathological findings concerning reproductive abilities were observed in 1088 cases (71.72%). In the remaining patients the following were diagnosed: uterine factor in 26 (6.02%) women, ovulation disorders in 134 (31.33%), including 70 (16.27%) of PCOS patients, tubal factor in 165 (38.55%) and endometriosis in 145 (33.73%). The average of 18.9% of couples had a mixed cause of infertility, while idiopathic factor was assigned to 15.99%. In the study male factor accounted for 55.73% of cases. Change of reference values for semen analysis implemented in 2010 caused an increase in the number of normal results and asthenozoospermia.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the data provided by Polish infertility centers the rate of male factor as a reason of infertility has reached 55.73%. However, the implementation of new reference values for semen analysis in 2010 led to the decrease in male factor frequency and the increase in the rate of idiophatic infertility. Anovulatory cycles and endometriosis are the main reasons affecting the female reproductive potential....

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Journal Article 2009; 30(6): 739-748 PubMed PMID: 20038934 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Birth Rate:trends, Contraception:utilization, Czech Republic:epidemiology, Europe:epidemiology, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female:epidemiology, Maternal Age, Pregnancy, Registries, Reproductive Techniques, Assisted:utilization, Risk Factors, Trip.   

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the importance of increased use of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) for the fertility trends in the Czech Republic.

DATA AND METHODS: Comparative analysis based on demographic and ART data was used. Demographic data have been published by EUROSTAT and the Czech Statistical Office. ART data have collected by ESHRE.

FINDINGS: In the 1990s a trend towards later childbearing contributed greatly to the decline in total fertility rate (TFR) in the Czech Republic. Recently, recuperation of delayed births has resulted in the increase of TFR to 1.5 children per woman which is considered to be a critical minimum level. The highest increase in fertility rates occurred in the age group of 35-39, in which the contribution of ART treatments usually is greatest. Moreover, a substantial increase of multiple births has been registered. In 2005 the estimated share of children born after ART in the Czech Republic (3%) was close to countries with the highest share (Nordic countries, Belgium or Slovenia). However, the Czech Republic registered only half the number of ART cycles per million inhabitants than in those countries. Contrary to Nordic countries the Czech Republic faced an extremely low TFR of 1.28 children per woman. As the estimation of average number of cycles suggests, the need for fertility treatment has not been met in the Czech Republic yet. Moreover, due to the continuous postponement of childbearing to higher women s age, demand for ART treatment will be even higher in the near future and will probably result in the need of more than 2 500 cycles per million inhabitants in the Czech Republic.

CONCLUSIONS: Spreading of ART is particularly relevant in the countries caught in the low fertility trap as higher impact on fertility trends could be expected. In the Czech Republic there is a chance to get over the critical level of TFR if comprehensive population policy including the improved access to ART based on well-considered strategy with explicit aim to optimize the quality of health care was accepted. However, from the demographic perspective the risk of further delay of childbearing encouraged by ART treatment should be taken into account while making these decisions....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(1): 13-18 PubMed PMID: 15726013 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Altitude, Environment, Hormones:blood, Humans, Infertility, Male:epidemiology, Jordan:epidemiology, Luteinizing Hormone:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Oligospermia:blood, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin:metabolism, Testosterone:blood,.   

: A correlation between serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (T), free T and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in normospermic and in oligospermic male people was done. This study was designed to measure serum levels of these hormones and of SHBG in people living at different altitude environments relative to sea level: at 209-408 meters below (the Jordan Valley, JV) and at 620 meters above (Irbid city, IC). In addition, a clinical awareness study of oligospermia was done in the North of Jordan (IC). Seminal analysis in 287 male people (age range, 18 to 40 years old) during the period between 12/6/1999 and 12/2/2002 showed an oligospermia of 31.4%. Serum levels of LH, total T, free T and SHBG in normospermic subjects in IC were similar to those in normospermic of the JV (3.4 +/- 1.2 vs. 4.0 +/- 1.7 MIU/ml, 19.9 +/- 4.0 vs. 20.4 +/- 5.6 ng/ml, 53.9 +/- 15.6 vs. 47.9 +/- 10.7 pg/ml, 19.5 +/- 3.2 vs. 18.6 +/- 2.16 nmol/l, respectively). Oligospermia was associated with increase in total T at both IC (27.5 +/- 4.6 vs. 19.9 +/- 4.0 ng/ml) and the JV (30.7 +/- 3.4 vs. 20.5 +/- 5.6). The higher serum level of total T in oligospermic people in both IC and the JV was associated with higher levels of SHBG compared to those levels in normospermic subjects. On the other hand, oligospermic subjects have lower serum level of free T than in normospermic males (41.5 +/- 10.0 vs. 53.9 +/- 15.6) only in IC, while in the JV, serum free T level was similar (46.5 +/- 6.1 vs. 47.9 +/- 10.7). Taken together data for both locations, IC and the JV, suggest a clear correlation between total T and SHBG levels in both groups' normospermic and oligospermic subjects....

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