INTRODUCTION
Infertility is a common medical condition that affects women worldwide.
Race is a determinant of infertility diagnoses, and racial disparities
account for a significant proportion of poor health outcomes overall(1).
Studies have demonstrated racial disparities in access to infertility
care and live birth rates following assisted reproductive technologies
(2),(3). While socioeconomic status accounts for some
of these findings, studies adjusting for these risk factors continue to
show a significant impact of race on infertility(4),
(5), (6),(7).
While prior research supports variations in the prevalence of different
causes of infertility between racial groups, racial groups in the United
States are heterogeneous, and differences between ethnic groups within a
race may of importance in predicting outcomes. Some studies suggest that
ethnicity may be a greater risk factor for acquiring certain medical
conditions then race alone. Malouf et al. showed significant differences
in live birth rates after in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment among
women of similar races but different nationalities in the United
Kingdom: they found that Black African women undergoing IVF had lower
odds of live birth following IVF compared to Black Caribbean women(8).
While several studies have examined the impact of race on infertility
diagnosis and treatment outcomes, few have investigated the role of
ethnicity or nationality on the etiology of infertility. Boston Medical
Center, a 500-bed urban academic safety-net hospital with a large,
international Black patient population, is uniquely positioned to
evaluate differences in infertility diagnoses by ethnicity. This study
aims to identify the role of ethnicity in the causes of infertility
among Black American, Haitian, and African women seeking infertility
care at a tertiary care center.