PMID: identifier of
Pubmed reference: |
 |
 (16755258) |
|
| title: |
|
Feasibility of the Current-Duration Approach to Studying Human Fecundity. |
|
| author(s): |
|
Rémy Slama ( ) 1, Béatrice Ducot1, Lisbeth Carstensen2, Christine Lorente3, Elise De La Rochebrochard1, Henri Leridon1, Niels Keiding2, Jean BOUYER1 |
|
| laboratory: |
|
|
|
| short title : |
|
Feasibility of the Current-Duration Approach |
|
| abstract: |
|
Approaches for monitoring time trends in couples' fecundity and for studying its sensitivity to environmental factors are needed. Two approaches rely on the inclusion of a cross-sectional sample of couples currently "at risk" of pregnancy either with follow up (prevalent cohort) or without follow up (current-duration design). To illustrate the feasibility of the current-duration design, we contacted a random sample of 1,204 French women age 18 to 44 years in 2004 and recruited those who were currently having unprotected sexual intercourse. The current duration since the beginning of unprotected intercourse was defined for 69 women (5.7%). An additional 15 women (1.2%) were planning to start trying to become pregnant within the next 6 months. Parametric methods allowed, based on current duration of unprotected intercourse, estimation of fecundity as if the couples had been followed prospectively. The estimated proportion of couples not pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse was 34% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 15-54%). The accelerated-failure time model allows study of the influence of environmental factors on fecundity. As an illustration, tobacco smoking by the woman was associated with a doubling in the median duration of unprotected intercourse before pregnancy (adjusted time ratio = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.1-5.2). We quantified the influence of time trends in the prevalence of smoking. We suggest ways to quantify or avoid other potential bias. In conclusion, it is possible to recruit a sample of couples currently having unprotected intercourse. The current-duration design appears feasible with approximately 5 times as many women eligible for study as for an incident cohort design. |
|
| subject: |
|
|
|
| fulltext language: |
|
English |
|
| ISSN: |
|
1044-3983 |
|
|
| publication format: |
|
Article in peer-reviewed journal |
|
| DOI: |
|
10.1097/01.ede.0000221781.15114.88 |
|
| journal: |
|
| Epidemiology (Epidemiology) |
| Publisher |
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins |
| ISSN |
1044-3983 |
|
|
| publication date: |
|
2006-07 |
|
| volume: |
|
17 |
|
| issue: |
|
4 |
|
| page, identifiant, ...: |
|
440-449 |
|
|
| contract, financing: |
|
The study was funded by grants from Institut de Veille Sanitaire (InVS) and from the French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (AFSSET). |
|
