Poverty and Social Disadvantage in Women and Men and Fertility Outcomes

Are poverty and social disadvantage, defined by low educational level and household income, associated with lower fecundability and higher risks of subfertility and miscarriage?In this cohort study of 3604 women and their partners that was conducted in an urban high-income setting, poverty and social disadvantage were associated with lower fecundability and higher risks of subfertility but not with higher risks of miscarriage.These findings suggest that poverty and social disadvantage are associated with fertility outcomes; further studies are needed to identify the underlying and explanatory mechanisms associated with fertility outcomes and the potential for novel public health strategies for couples desiring pregnancy.

Corresponding Author: Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, MD, PhD, The Generation R Study Group (Na 29), Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands (v.jaddoe@erasmusmc.nl).

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