Female infertility results from a myriad of causes – genetic and nongenetic. Sometimes a genetic aetiology is clearly evident. In other disorders heritable tendencies exist, but the precise genetic aetiology remains obscure. In this communication we shall consider the genetics of selected common causes of female infertility: premature ovarian failure; leiomyomata; polycystic ovarian disease; endometriosis. Not discussed here are disorders of gonadal differentiation primarily causing gonadal failure and disorders of female internal ducts, both considered elsewhere by the author and colleagues. The current contribution inevitably mirrors these other publications.