Infertility is diagnosed for someone who is 35 years and younger when pregnancy does not occur after one year of unprotected intercourse; Or if over 35 years of age pregnancy does not occur after six months of unprotected intercourse. There are several factors responsible. The main reason for the age-gap difference is that fertility declines with age.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- 7.3 million – number of women ages 15 to 44 with impaired ability to have children
- 2.1 million – number of married couples that are infertile
- 9.3 million – number of women using infertility services
In only about one-third of these cases is infertility due to the woman (female factors). In another one third of cases, infertility is due to the man (male factors). The remaining cases are caused by a mixture of male/female factors or by unknown factors. Primary infertility is defined as infertility without any previous pregnancy, whereas, secondary infertility occurs in a couple that has conceived naturally and gave birth to a child in the past. For the couples that seek medical attention for their infertility, two-thirds of these couples will in fact give birth.
Since 1968, physician office visits for infertility services has increased dramatically. In the U.S. alone there were:
- 600,000 visits in 1968
- 1.35 million visits in 1988
- 1.8 million visits in 1995
This increase reflects many factors – couples postponing marriage and/or childbearing, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), less embarrassment regarding seeking treatment and acceptance that infertility can be a male or female problem.
First things first, if you believe you or your partner has an issue, find a fertility specialist that you feel comfortable with and know that they have your best interest at heart. All too often, women play the waiting game on consulting with a specialist because they are hoping that next month is the one -- they’ll end up pregnant via intercourse. In the meantime, the “clock” is ticking. A fertility specialist is usually an obstetrician/ gynecologist with advanced education, research, and professional skills in Reproductive Endocrinology (RE). These highly trained and qualified doctors are who you want to consult.
