{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T17:53:43Z","timestamp":1777312423207,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":76,"publisher":"Hamad bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press)","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    <jats:bold>Background:<\/jats:bold>\n                    Infertility is a rising global and regional concern, yet its associated factors remain underexplored in Qatar. This study investigated demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors linked to infertility, aiming to provide insights that can enhance reproductive healthcare strategies and patient outcomes in the region.\n                  <\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    <jats:bold>Methods:<\/jats:bold>\n                    A total of 998,328 eligible individuals from 27 Primary Health Care Centers in Qatar were identified for this case-control study. Data were collected between January 2016 and December 2022. Eligible individuals were aged 18 to 49 years with a documented fertility status. After 1:1 matching by age, gender, and nationality, the final sample included 51,542 participants (25,771 cases, 25,771 controls). Analyses were stratified by gender and nationality.\n                  <\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    <jats:bold>Results:<\/jats:bold>\n                    A total of 16,158 female cases and 9,613 male cases with infertility were identified and matched to fertile individuals. After multivariable logistic regression, in Qatari and non-Qatari females, polycystic ovarian syndrome was associated with higher odds of infertility (odds ratio [OR], 4.34 [95% CI, 3.36\u20135.61];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001) and (OR, 5.54 [95% CI, 4.74\u20136.47];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001), respectively. Uterine polyps showed a strong association in both groups (OR, 3.18 [95% CI, 2.21\u20134.59];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001) and (OR, 6.05 [95% CI, 4.57\u20138.01];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001), respectively. In both male groups, varicocele was associated with higher odds of infertility (OR, 39.46 [95% CI, 22.60\u201368.90];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001) and (OR, 37.75 [95% CI, 26.32\u201354.16];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001), respectively. Similarly, in erectile dysfunction (OR, 4.54 [95% CI, 3.32\u20136.21];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001) and (OR, 6.59 [95% CI, 4.74\u20139.17];\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &lt; 0.001), respectively.\n                  <\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    <jats:bold>Conclusion:<\/jats:bold>\n                    In females and males, reproductive diseases and other comorbidities were associated with higher odds of infertility in both Qatari and non-Qatari individuals. Future studies should investigate temporal associations and include additional risk factors to guide effective infertility prevention strategies.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5339\/qmj.2025.83","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,23]],"date-time":"2025-09-23T06:30:43Z","timestamp":1758609043000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Factors associated with infertility in males and females in Qatar: A case-control study"],"prefix":"10.5339","volume":"2025","author":[{"given":"Haya","family":"Alkuwari","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mohamed","family":"Ibrahim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nour","family":"Darwish","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hamad","family":"Almaraghi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alyaa","family":"AI-Wuhaili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fatema","family":"Al-Muslamani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mohamed Iheb","family":"Bougmiza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"},{"name":"Community Medicine Residency Program, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tawanda","family":"Chivese","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Science and Mathematics, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington, United States of America*Correspondence: Haya Alkuwari ha2002868@qu.edu.qa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mohamed","family":"Emara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"3277","reference":[{"key":"CIT0001","article-title":"Infertility [updated 3 April 2023]","author":"World Health Organization"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0002","series-title":"J Health Popul Nutr","first-page":"11","article-title":"Contributing factors to the total fertility rate declining trend in the Middle East and North Africa: a systemic review","volume":"40","author":"Pourreza\n \nA","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0003","series-title":"Hum Reprod Open","first-page":"hoac051","article-title":"Infertility prevalence and the methods of estimation from 1990 to 2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"2022","author":"Cox\n \nCM","year":"2022"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"CIT0004","series-title":"Hum Reprod Update","first-page":"848\u201360","article-title":"ESHRE Reproduction and Society Task Force. Why do people postpone parenthood? Reasons and social policy incentives","volume":"17","author":"Mills\n \nM","year":"2011"},{"key":"CIT0005","series-title":"J Reprod Immunol","first-page":"103173","article-title":"Potential causes of male and female infertility in Qatar","volume":"141","author":"Zauner\n \nG","year":"2020"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"CIT0006","series-title":"Obstet Gynaecol","first-page":"161\u20138","article-title":"Reproductive ageing and fertility in an ageing population","volume":"13","author":"Cooke\n \nL","year":"2011"},{"key":"CIT0007","article-title":"Female infertility: causes, risk factors, tests & treatment","author":"Cleveland Clinic"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"CIT0008","series-title":"Womens Health (Lond)","first-page":"701\u20137","article-title":"Fertility issues in women with diabetes","volume":"5","author":"Livshits\n \nA","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0009","series-title":"Fertil Steril","first-page":"810\u20134","article-title":"Male infertility as a window to health","volume":"110","author":"Choy\n \nJT","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0010","series-title":"Arab J Urol","first-page":"10\u201320","article-title":"Lifestyle causes of male infertility","volume":"16","author":"Durairajanayagam\n \nD","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0011","series-title":"Michael\u2019s Hospital, Jachie-Pramso in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. BMC Res Notes","first-page":"690","article-title":"Psychosocial effects of infertility among couples attending St","volume":"10","author":"Anokye\n \nR","year":"2017"},{"key":"CIT0012","article-title":"Population Health Profiling 2021","author":"Primary Health Care Corporation","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0013","series-title":"JNCI Cancer Spectr","first-page":"pkz008","article-title":"Cancer treatment-related infertility: a critical review of the evidence","volume":"3","author":"Poorvu\n \nPD","year":"2019"},{"key":"CIT0014","article-title":"A healthy lifestyle - WHO recommendations 2010","author":"World Health Organization"},{"key":"CIT0015","article-title":"Defining adult overweight & obesity 2022","author":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0016","series-title":"Reprod Health","first-page":"155","article-title":"Incidence and risk factors of infertility among couples who desire a first and second child in Shanghai, China: a facility-based prospective cohort study","volume":"19","author":"Zhu\n \nC","year":"2022"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"CIT0017","series-title":"Int J Women\u2019s Health Reprod Sci","first-page":"346\u201353","article-title":"Etiology and risk factors associated with infertility","volume":"7","author":"Moridi\n \nA","year":"2019;"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0018","series-title":"Afr J Reprod Health","first-page":"90\u20135","article-title":"Evaluation of causes of female infertility using ultrasonography in Najran, Saudi Arabia","volume":"26","author":"Khalid\n \nNHM","year":"2022"},{"key":"CIT0019","series-title":"SAGE Open Med","first-page":"205031 2119848247","article-title":"Endometrial polyps: pathogenesis, sequelae and treatment","volume":"7","author":"Nijkang\n \nNP","year":"2019"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"CIT0020","series-title":"Clin Obstet Gynecol","first-page":"429\u201338","article-title":"Endometriosis and infertility","volume":"53","author":"Holoch\n \nKJ","year":"2010"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0021","series-title":"Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am","first-page":"535\u201349","article-title":"Endometriosis and infertility: a review of the pathogenesis and treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility","volume":"39","author":"Macer\n \nML","year":"2012"},{"key":"CIT0022","series-title":"Fertil Res Pract","first-page":"12","article-title":"Risk profile of Qatari women treated for infertility in a tertiary hospital: a case-control study","volume":"6","author":"Musa\n \nS","year":"2020"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0023","series-title":"Med J Zambia","first-page":"41\u20134","article-title":"Factors associated with infertility among women attending the Gynaecology Clinic at University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia","volume":"44","author":"Kalima-Munalula\n \nMN","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0024","series-title":"PLoS One","first-page":"e0155563","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors of infertility at a rural site of Northern China","volume":"11","author":"Cong\n \nJ","year":"2016"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0025","series-title":"Afr Health Sci","first-page":"1985\u201395","article-title":"Infertility and associated factors in three hospitals in Douala, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study","volume":"20","author":"Egbe\n \nTO","year":"2020"},{"key":"CIT0026","series-title":"Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol","first-page":"66","article-title":"Infertility and uterine fibroids","volume":"34","author":"Zepiridis\n \nLI","year":"2016"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"CIT0027","series-title":"Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol","first-page":"134\u201349","article-title":"Diabetes: a metabolic and reproductive disorder in women","volume":"8","author":"Thong\n \nEP","year":"2020"},{"issue":"(9):","key":"CIT0028","series-title":"Nat Rev Urol","first-page":"523\u201333","article-title":"Varicocele and male infertility","volume":"14","author":"Jensen\n \nCFS","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0029","series-title":"Andrologia","first-page":"e14275","article-title":"Effect of varicocele on sperm DNA damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"54","author":"Zhang\n \nY","year":"2022"},{"key":"CIT0030","series-title":"Front Immunol","first-page":"582946","article-title":"Mumps Orchitis: Clinical Aspects and Mechanisms","volume":"12","author":"Wu\n \nH","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(4-5):","key":"CIT0031","series-title":"Autoimmun Rev","first-page":"431\u20134","article-title":"Diagnosis and classification of autoimmune orchitis","volume":"13","author":"Silva\n \nCA","year":"2014"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0032","series-title":"Sex Med","first-page":"100528","article-title":"Sexual dysfunction in infertile men: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"10","author":"Liu\n \nY","year":"2022"},{"issue":"(11):","key":"CIT0033","series-title":"Andrologia","first-page":"e13093","article-title":"Implications of prostate inflammation on male fertility","volume":"50","author":"Motrich\n \nRD","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0034","series-title":"Am J Reprod Immunol","first-page":"e13126","article-title":"Chronic epididymitis and leptin and their associations with semen characteristics in men with infertility","volume":"82","author":"Xin\n \nS","year":"2019"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"CIT0035","series-title":"Asian J Androl","first-page":"948\u201353","article-title":"The effects of diabetes on male fertility and epigenetic regulation during spermatogenesis","volume":"17","author":"Ding\n \nGL","year":"2015"},{"key":"CIT0036","series-title":"J Lipids","first-page":"8866784","article-title":"Distribution of lipids and prevalence of dyslipidemia among Indian expatriates in Qatar","volume":"2021","author":"Nirwan\n \nR","year":"2021"},{"key":"CIT0037","series-title":"Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol","first-page":"2058738418775241","article-title":"Thyroid dysfunction and semen quality","volume":"32","author":"La Vignera\n \nS","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0038","series-title":"Lung","first-page":"545\u201356","article-title":"Sexual dysfunction in men with COPD: impact on quality of life and survival","volume":"190","author":"Collins\n \nEG","year":"2012"},{"key":"CIT0001","article-title":"Infertility [updated 3 April 2023]","author":"World Health Organization"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0002","series-title":"J Health Popul Nutr","first-page":"11","article-title":"Contributing factors to the total fertility rate declining trend in the Middle East and North Africa: a systemic review","volume":"40","author":"Pourreza\n \nA","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0003","series-title":"Hum Reprod Open","first-page":"hoac051","article-title":"Infertility prevalence and the methods of estimation from 1990 to 2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"2022","author":"Cox\n \nCM","year":"2022"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"CIT0004","series-title":"Hum Reprod Update","first-page":"848\u201360","article-title":"ESHRE Reproduction and Society Task Force. Why do people postpone parenthood? Reasons and social policy incentives","volume":"17","author":"Mills\n \nM","year":"2011"},{"key":"CIT0005","series-title":"J Reprod Immunol","first-page":"103173","article-title":"Potential causes of male and female infertility in Qatar","volume":"141","author":"Zauner\n \nG","year":"2020"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"CIT0006","series-title":"Obstet Gynaecol","first-page":"161\u20138","article-title":"Reproductive ageing and fertility in an ageing population","volume":"13","author":"Cooke\n \nL","year":"2011"},{"key":"CIT0007","article-title":"Female infertility: causes, risk factors, tests & treatment","author":"Cleveland Clinic"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"CIT0008","series-title":"Womens Health (Lond)","first-page":"701\u20137","article-title":"Fertility issues in women with diabetes","volume":"5","author":"Livshits\n \nA","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0009","series-title":"Fertil Steril","first-page":"810\u20134","article-title":"Male infertility as a window to health","volume":"110","author":"Choy\n \nJT","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0010","series-title":"Arab J Urol","first-page":"10\u201320","article-title":"Lifestyle causes of male infertility","volume":"16","author":"Durairajanayagam\n \nD","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0011","series-title":"Michael\u2019s Hospital, Jachie-Pramso in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. BMC Res Notes","first-page":"690","article-title":"Psychosocial effects of infertility among couples attending St","volume":"10","author":"Anokye\n \nR","year":"2017"},{"key":"CIT0012","article-title":"Population Health Profiling 2021","author":"Primary Health Care Corporation","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0013","series-title":"JNCI Cancer Spectr","first-page":"pkz008","article-title":"Cancer treatment-related infertility: a critical review of the evidence","volume":"3","author":"Poorvu\n \nPD","year":"2019"},{"key":"CIT0014","article-title":"A healthy lifestyle - WHO recommendations 2010","author":"World Health Organization"},{"key":"CIT0015","article-title":"Defining adult overweight & obesity 2022","author":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0016","series-title":"Reprod Health","first-page":"155","article-title":"Incidence and risk factors of infertility among couples who desire a first and second child in Shanghai, China: a facility-based prospective cohort study","volume":"19","author":"Zhu\n \nC","year":"2022"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"CIT0017","series-title":"Int J Women\u2019s Health Reprod Sci","first-page":"346\u201353","article-title":"Etiology and risk factors associated with infertility","volume":"7","author":"Moridi\n \nA","year":"2019;"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0018","series-title":"Afr J Reprod Health","first-page":"90\u20135","article-title":"Evaluation of causes of female infertility using ultrasonography in Najran, Saudi Arabia","volume":"26","author":"Khalid\n \nNHM","year":"2022"},{"key":"CIT0019","series-title":"SAGE Open Med","first-page":"205031 2119848247","article-title":"Endometrial polyps: pathogenesis, sequelae and treatment","volume":"7","author":"Nijkang\n \nNP","year":"2019"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"CIT0020","series-title":"Clin Obstet Gynecol","first-page":"429\u201338","article-title":"Endometriosis and infertility","volume":"53","author":"Holoch\n \nKJ","year":"2010"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0021","series-title":"Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am","first-page":"535\u201349","article-title":"Endometriosis and infertility: a review of the pathogenesis and treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility","volume":"39","author":"Macer\n \nML","year":"2012"},{"key":"CIT0022","series-title":"Fertil Res Pract","first-page":"12","article-title":"Risk profile of Qatari women treated for infertility in a tertiary hospital: a case-control study","volume":"6","author":"Musa\n \nS","year":"2020"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0023","series-title":"Med J Zambia","first-page":"41\u20134","article-title":"Factors associated with infertility among women attending the Gynaecology Clinic at University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia","volume":"44","author":"Kalima-Munalula\n \nMN","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0024","series-title":"PLoS One","first-page":"e0155563","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors of infertility at a rural site of Northern China","volume":"11","author":"Cong\n \nJ","year":"2016"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0025","series-title":"Afr Health Sci","first-page":"1985\u201395","article-title":"Infertility and associated factors in three hospitals in Douala, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study","volume":"20","author":"Egbe\n \nTO","year":"2020"},{"key":"CIT0026","series-title":"Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol","first-page":"66","article-title":"Infertility and uterine fibroids","volume":"34","author":"Zepiridis\n \nLI","year":"2016"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"CIT0027","series-title":"Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol","first-page":"134\u201349","article-title":"Diabetes: a metabolic and reproductive disorder in women","volume":"8","author":"Thong\n \nEP","year":"2020"},{"issue":"(9):","key":"CIT0028","series-title":"Nat Rev Urol","first-page":"523\u201333","article-title":"Varicocele and male infertility","volume":"14","author":"Jensen\n \nCFS","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0029","series-title":"Andrologia","first-page":"e14275","article-title":"Effect of varicocele on sperm DNA damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"54","author":"Zhang\n \nY","year":"2022"},{"key":"CIT0030","series-title":"Front Immunol","first-page":"582946","article-title":"Mumps Orchitis: Clinical Aspects and Mechanisms","volume":"12","author":"Wu\n \nH","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(4-5):","key":"CIT0031","series-title":"Autoimmun Rev","first-page":"431\u20134","article-title":"Diagnosis and classification of autoimmune orchitis","volume":"13","author":"Silva\n \nCA","year":"2014"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"CIT0032","series-title":"Sex Med","first-page":"100528","article-title":"Sexual dysfunction in infertile men: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"10","author":"Liu\n \nY","year":"2022"},{"issue":"(11):","key":"CIT0033","series-title":"Andrologia","first-page":"e13093","article-title":"Implications of prostate inflammation on male fertility","volume":"50","author":"Motrich\n \nRD","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"CIT0034","series-title":"Am J Reprod Immunol","first-page":"e13126","article-title":"Chronic epididymitis and leptin and their associations with semen characteristics in men with infertility","volume":"82","author":"Xin\n \nS","year":"2019"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"CIT0035","series-title":"Asian J Androl","first-page":"948\u201353","article-title":"The effects of diabetes on male fertility and epigenetic regulation during spermatogenesis","volume":"17","author":"Ding\n \nGL","year":"2015"},{"key":"CIT0036","series-title":"J Lipids","first-page":"8866784","article-title":"Distribution of lipids and prevalence of dyslipidemia among Indian expatriates in Qatar","volume":"2021","author":"Nirwan\n \nR","year":"2021"},{"key":"CIT0037","series-title":"Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol","first-page":"2058738418775241","article-title":"Thyroid dysfunction and semen quality","volume":"32","author":"La Vignera\n \nS","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(5):","key":"CIT0038","series-title":"Lung","first-page":"545\u201356","article-title":"Sexual dysfunction in men with COPD: impact on quality of life and survival","volume":"190","author":"Collins\n \nEG","year":"2012"}],"container-title":["Qatar Medical Journal"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.qscience.com\/view\/journals\/qmj\/2025\/3\/article-83.xml","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.qscience.com\/downloadpdf\/journals\/qmj\/2025\/3\/article-83.xml","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.qscience.com\/downloadpdf\/journals\/qmj\/2025\/3\/article-83.xml","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T17:17:01Z","timestamp":1777310221000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.qscience.com\/view\/journals\/qmj\/2025\/3\/article-83.xml"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025]]},"references-count":76,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3"},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5339\/qmj.2025.83","relation":{},"ISSN":["2227-0426"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2227-0426","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025]]}}}