Status of the childless couple

Data from 150 couples was evaluated in a retrospective study at the Infertility Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Graz. Investigations were based on a standardized andrological schedule of inquiry consisting of 163 items. 23 concerned the couple while 111 items referred to the male and 29 to the female. The special aim of this study was to obtain general data on the couple. The age of the patients duration of the marriage and the desire to have children as well as contraceptive and sexual habits were assessed. Furthermore special andrological problems such as previous illnesses of the genitalia results of palpation and spermatograms were of special interest. Anamnestic data on the evaluation of the female partner have also been an important component in the present study. The average duration of an infertile marriage was 5.1 +or- 3.3 years the average time for desiring children was 3.8 +or- 2.7 years. 36% of the couples had practiced contraception for a mean of 1.0 +or- 1.7 years; 33% of the men had suffered from a disease of the genital organs. Pathological palpatory findings occurred in 49%. Only 10% of the patients had a normal spermiogram. In 21% of the women an attempt had been made to evaluate sterility via invasive diagnostic methods without sufficient evaluation of fertility in the male partner. An overall pregnancy rate of 24.7% was achieved. (authors modified) (summaries in GER ENG)