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Comparing Rates of a First Visit for Infertility Services by Parity Status

Is there a significant difference in the rates of a first visit for infertility services between nulliparous women and parous women? Applying statistical models common to fertility studies, this research uses discrete-time event history models to estimate the hazard of a first visit for infertility treatment across two groups of women based on their parity status. Parity status for this study is dichotomized into nulliparous women and parous women. Using retrospective data from the National Survey of Family Growth about the month and year of the first visit for infertility treatment as well as pregnancy histories from female respondents, results indicate that nulliparous women are 38% more likely to have a first visit for infertility compared to parous women. The higher rates of nulliparous women who seek infertility treatment compared to parous women are incongruent with self-reported fertility expectations among women to have at least two children. This study provides insight into why parity status influences the rates of seeking infertility assistance in spite of fertility expectations.