The International Federation of Fertility Societies XI World Congress on Fertility and Sterility took place in Ireland at the Royal Dublin Society from the 26th June-1st July, 1983. Some 1900 delegates repre senting 54 countries attended the social and scientific programme in glorious weather that showed off the unsurpassable rare beauty of Dublin and Ireland, so often hidden in mist and rain. The book begins with the full inaugural address to the Conference by Dr A. Kessler, Head of the WHO Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. It then records scientific contributions presented in the main themes of the Congress, followed by synopses of deliberations from workshops held during the course of the meeting. Papers from four special symposia are included, which acknowledge the debt IFFS Dublin '83 owes the World Health Organization and our colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry. The large number and excellent standard of the related communications is such that they deserve publication in separate appropriate volumes. These are already in preparation.