Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and key contributors to infertility among women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 895 females attending the fertility unit at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital between 2017 and 2022. Data collected included age, body mass index (BMI), menstrual cycle regularity, type of infertility (primary or secondary), and reproductive health conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), anovulation, tubal pathology, endometriosis, and unexplained infertility.
Results: The participants’ mean age was 36 years (SD = 6), with a mean BMI of 29.18 (SD = 15.78). Primary infertility was found in 31.2% of cases, while secondary infertility accounted for 28.0%. A significant association was found between infertility type and menstrual cycle regularity (χ² = 4.585, p-value = 0.032); 59.3% of women with primary infertility had irregular cycles, whereas 80.4% of those with secondary infertility had regular cycles. However, BMI showed no significant association with infertility type (p-value = 0.837) or duration (r = 0.023, p-value = 0.484). Regression analysis identified age as the only significant predictor of infertility duration (B = 0.123, p < 0.001), with other factors showing no significance (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Age was the primary predictor of infertility duration, emphasizing early fertility screening and intervention. The link between menstrual irregularity and primary infertility underscores the need for hormonal and metabolic evaluations. Further research should explore psychological stress and partner-related factors.
Key words: Infertility, menstrual cycle irregularity, infertility duration, fertility predictors, Saudi Arabia
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