Pathways of infertile Moroccan women to conceive: an exploratory study

Abstract

The prevalence of infertility is steadily increasing worldwide. The path of infertile couples to conceive is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating several medical, psychological, and social approaches. This study aimed to explore the pathways of infertile women to conceive in Morocco. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Morocco. A sample of 310 infertile women aged 15–49 years consulting different public health centers was selected by a simple random sampling method, between August 2022 and April 2024. The results of this investigation showed that infertile women use traditional practices before, after, or alongside medical care. This is due to high costs of ART and lack of confidence in infertility management at primary health care services. Among the participants, uterine adhesions (OR = 8,264; p < 0.001), endometriosis (OR = 3,615; p = 0,019), sexually transmitted infections (OR = 4,029; p = 0,036) were significantly associated with higher odds. Women with secondary infertility choose more specialized and advanced medical treatments compared to women with primary infertility (p < 0.001). The combination of traditional practices followed by IVF demonstrates a strong and statistically significant increase in the odds of conception (OR = 4.343, p = 0.002). The findings emphasize highlight necessity for early referral of infertile women to specialized care tailored to their type of infertility to optimize conception. Therefore, government must prioritize reproductive health strategies within educational awareness campaigns aimed at population in Morocco to support their fertility.