The relationship between infertility and intentional delay of childbearing

Abstract

Background: The use of contraceptive methods and intentional delay of childbearing and their relationship with infertility are important questions in the minds of couples and health service providers. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between infertility and intentional delay of childbearing and the duration of contraceptive use in couples. Materials and methods: This was a case-control study on 290 couples referring to the Al-Zahra infertility center, Shahrekord, Iran and Health Centers Number 1 and 5 of Shahrekord from May to August 2022 using a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected through a checklist and analyzed using SPSS software version 18. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and independent t-test were used with a significance level < 0.05. Results: The results of the study showed that there was no difference in intentional delay of childbearing (the duration of contraceptive use) between the case and control groups. The most common contraceptive method used by both groups was the whithdrawal method. The use of condoms and OCP was significantly higher in the control group, and the use of IUD was significantly higher in the case group. Conclusion: The results showed that the duration of contraceptive use was not associated with infertility, but the type of contraceptive was associated with infertility. This finding can also be used in the field of couples counseling. However, due to the contradictions and ambiguities in this area and the limitations of this study, further research in this field is recommended.