Screening for infertility in Indonesia. Results of examination of 863 infertile couples.

During a five-year study, 863 infertile couples were examined by a quite simple screening procedure, adapted to the facilities or a rural hospital. Tubal obstruction, with an incidence of 45.4% appeared to be the most prominent cause of infertility. The second most important factor was poor semen quality, which accounted for 32.4%. Azoospermia was found in 12% of all semen samples, and a sperm count below 5 million/ml in 8.7%. Disturbances in ovulation were responsible for 13% of the infertility. Comparison of the causes of primary and secondary infertility demonstrated the greater role played by the semen factor in primary infertility and of the tubal factor in secondary infertility. Accordingly, the female-male ratio in secondary infertility was much higher than in primary infertility.