What Is Infertility?

If a couple is infertile, this means that they have been unable to conceive a child after twelve months of regular sexual intercourse without birth control.  It is common to seek care sooner if a woman is > 35 years old or has other known factors that may be contributing to their subfertility.  Men with abnormal semen parameters often will seek care before a year of trying to conceive has elapsed.

• Primary infertility means that a woman has never had a child.
• Secondary infertility means that a woman has had one or more children in the past, but is currently experiencing trying to conceive.

Many reproductive-aged men and women are actually infertile.  They may be unaware of this because they are not seeking to create a pregnancy.

About one in seven couples in the United States are infertile. Age, lifestyle and physical problems can all contribute to infertility.