Prevalence of Infertility and Factors for Not Seeking Medical Help in Japan

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H03193
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University (2022-2023); Akita University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Maeda Eri 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (30778395)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 野村 恭子 秋田大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (40365987) ; 左 勝則 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 非常勤講師 (60819126) ; 小林 廉毅 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 教授 (70178341)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 不妊症 / 有病率

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A nationwide stratified two-stage random sample survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of infertility, defined as a 12-month period of infertility. There were 1200 female respondents aged 25-49 years (40% response rate). Weighted period and lifetime prevalence were calculated among women with a partner (married or cohabiting) aged 25-44 years.The period prevalence (direct and indirect methods) was 8.2% (95% confidence interval: 6.3-10.5) and 7.5% (95% confidence interval: 5.7-10.0), respectively, similar to previous studies in developed countries. On the other hand, the lifetime prevalence rate (direct method) was as high as 38.5% (95% confidence interval: 35.3-41.8). Further studies investigating disease duration are needed.

Free Research Field

社会医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

第16回出生動向基本調査[国立社会保障・人口問題研究所（2021）]では「あなた方ご夫婦は、不妊について不安や悩みがありますか」と回答者の主観に基づく不妊を調査していたが、本研究では、本邦で初めて世界保健機関の定義（12か月間の不妊期間）に基づく有病率推計を行った。同一の母集団に対し、複数のアプローチでの期間有病率推計も行うことができたため、国際的にも有用である。