Sexual Dysfunction and Infertility Prevalence of infertility in Tabriz in 2004 Yadollah Ahmadi Asr Badr,* Kazem Madaen, Sakineh Haj Ebrahimi, Amir Hassan Ehsan Nejad, Hossein Koushavar Department of Urology, Sina Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ABSTRACT Introduction: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility in Tabriz population and to compare the marriage age between infertile and fertile groups. We also evaluated the rate of seeking help for treatment of infertility among the patients. Materials and Methods: In a survey, we evaluated the prevalence of infertility in Tabriz in 2004 using cluster random sampling. Tabriz was divided into 360 zones and from each zone, 10 couples were selected. Six interviewers filled out the questionnaires by direct reference to interviewees' homes. Overall, 3600 couples were evaluated for infertility. Results: Of 3600 couples, 3183 were married for more than a year and answered the questions appropriately. Prevalence of infertility was 3.27% (2.04% as primary and 1.23% as secondary infertility). Among couples whose wives were in their reproductive age (15 to 49 years), the overall prevalence of infertility was 3.35% (2.05% as primary and 1.30% as secondary). Mean age of women at marriage was significantly higher in couples with primary infertility (20.87 ± 5.4 versus 18.75 ± 4.04; P < .001). Treatment seeking was 79.6% and 67.6% among patients with primary and secondary infertility, respectively. In general, 75% of the patients had referred to medical centers. Conclusion: The prevalence of primary infertility was almost the same as other Asian countries, but the prevalence of secondary infertility was lower than other countries. A higher marriage age was accompanied with a significant decrease in fertility of the couple. Primary infertile patients had referred to medical center slightly more often than secondary infertile patients. KEY WORDS: primary infertility, secondary infertility, population, prevalence 87 Urology Journal UNRC/IUA Vol. 3, No. 2, 87-91 Spring 2006 Printed in IRAN Introduction Studies on infertility prevalence are rare in Iran, and to our knowledge, there has been one study in this area in which the infertility prevalence is reported among couples referring to medical centers of the west part of Tehran. (1) However, this study is not a representative sample of the society. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility in Tabriz population (one of the major cities of Iran, in the northwest) and to compare the marriage age between fertile and infertile couples. We also evaluated the rate of seeking medical help among infertile couples. Materials and Methods In a survey, we selected 3600 couples using a cluster random sampling in 2004 to determine infertility rate among couples in Tabriz, Iran. The Received June 2005 Accepted December 2005 *Corresponding author: Department of Urology, Sina Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Tel: +98 914 311 3167, Fax: +98 411 541 2151 E-mail: ahmadiy@tbzmed.ac.ir