In this study we assess whether a population of donor inseminated women (ADI) provides an efficient alternative to an open population of women of reproductive age to study the effects of risk habits (cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption) on reproductive and perinatal health. An ADI population can be prospectively monitored before and after pregnancy; women enter the programme because of their husband's infertility. In the pilot clinic every couple asking for first insemination was requested to fill in a self-administered questionnaire on risk habits and the use of medicine. Medical histories of both the man and woman were taken. In 1986 and 1987, 519 women entered the programme. The response rate was 95%. Distribution of the exposure variables of the women currently smoking (52%) and currently drinking (68%) compared well with a general population survey from the town of Rotterdam. With regard to their risk habits and reproductive health, the population of women married to totally infertile men seems representative of women of reproductive age from an open population.