infertility in mazandaran province - north of iran: an etiological study

background:   objective: this study was conducted to determine the clinical patterns and major causes of infertility in mazandaran province in north of iran.   materials and methods: the medical records of 3734 consecutive couples attending two infertility clinics in mazandaran province, from 2003 to 2008, were reviewed. the couples had not had a viable birth after at least 1 year of unprotected intercourse and were fully investigated. results: of the entire samples, 78.7% had primary infertility and 21.3% had secondary infertility. the mean duration of infertility in couples was 5.7±4 years. the etiology of infertility in couples revealed; male factor in 38.9%, female factor in 34.7%, combined factors in 14.6% and undetermined cause in 11.8%. conclusion: in this study, delayed attendance of infertile couples to the infertility clinic was found. therefore, there is a need to revise public health program on infertility to focus on the education and prevention of infertility and its risk factors.