The Relationship between Unexplained Infertility and Sedentary Lifestyle among Women in the Urban City of Colombo: Infertile Females Vs. Fertile Females

Abstract

Infertility is defined as the absence of conception after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between unexplained infertility and sedentary lifestyle. A case-control study was conducted among 250 women (18 – 32 years) , who were clinically diagnosed with infertility and fulfilled the inclusion criteria at Infertility clinics and Gynaecology wards at 3 hospitals in Colombo district. Required data were obtained from an International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Significant positive Association (P<0.05) were explored between the obesity category and female infertility. There was a significant influence of over fat (30.4%) level measured using SFT for female infertility. A significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was emphasized between low levels of IPAQ score (36.4%) and female infertility. Women aged ≥28 years, sedentary occupations and age at menarche were found to be associated with infertility (P<0.01). Sedentary life style behaviour among women in reproductive age, living in urban city of Colombo was found to be associated with female infertility.