Workshop on the standardized investigation of the infertile couple

Abstract

Since 1974 the World Health Organization has been concerned with research on infertility. Initially this was confined to epidemiological studies which were undertaken at the request of member governments and took place mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, where infertility was considered to be a major problem in certain communities. In the late 1970s there was increasing scientific interest in the WHO Special Programme of Research in Human Reproduction assuming an active role in research on the aetiology of unexplained infertility, the simplification of diagnostic procedures, evaluation of certain controversial treatments in large-scale multinational trials and continuing research on the prevalence of infertility.