Trends in causes and treatment of infertility at Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, 1976–1989

OBJECTIVE: To describe the causes of infertility among couples presenting to a fertility clinic over a period of 14 years. Changes in treatment methods over the same period are described. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of records of patient age, date of first visit, duration and cause of infertility, treatment and outcome. SETTING: A fertility clinic set in a large public hospital. Patients are referred by both general gynaecologists and general practitioners. PATIENTS: From 1976 to 1989 (inclusive) 2895 couples who had engaged in unprotected intercourse for at least 12 months without conceiving attended the clinic. RESULTS: Three major diagnostic categories were considered; these embraced aetiological factors relating to semen, ovulation, and pelvic anatomy. Investigation of the causes of infertility after a couple's first visit showed these to be a semen defect in 22%, irregular cycles or anovulation in 29%, and a pelvic disorder in 57%. The incidence of semen defects as the cause remained constant between 1976 and 1989 while that of ovulation "problems" declined from 42% in 1976 to 13% in 1989. In contrast, the incidence of pelvic dysfunction increased from 40% in 1976 to 68% in 1989, predominantly due to an increased diagnosis of endometriosis. The principal treatments were ovulation induction/cycle regulation (51%), in-vitro fertilisation/gamete intrafallopian transfer (42%), and donor insemination (18%). CONCLUSIONS: Provided patient information is accurately and consistently recorded a Fertility Audit is a useful window on the activates of a Fertility Clinic and serves to highlight areas which warrant further investigation.