How Common is Infertility?

Most people spend a lot of time avoiding pregnancy so when pregnancy is desired, success is expected immediately. Understanding your personal fertility and the factors that affect your fertility potential are key to a successful pregnancy. Our patients often ask “how common is infertility”?

What Are the Chances of Pregnancy?

• Approximately 50% of young women under age 35 attempting pregnancy will become pregnant in the first two menstrual cycles, and over 80% will become pregnant during the first 6 months of trying. Therefore the ability to become pregnant per cycle attempt called fecundability for women under age 35 is at least 20% per month.
• For women 35-39 years of age fecundability is 15% per month
• For women over age 40 the chance of becoming successfully pregnant per month of trying is only 2% to 5%.

Fertility is thus an age-related phenomenon.

How Do I Know If I Am Infertile?

Infertility is defined for women under age 35 as the inability to successfully conceive after attempting pregnancy for one year. For women 35 years of age and older infertility is defined as the inability to successfully conceive after trying for 6 months.

How Common is Infertility?

An estimated one out of six couples attempting pregnancy will have fertility challenges. If you are struggling to conceive, you are not alone.

• Approximately 12% of women and 9% of men suffer infertility. Age is not as big of a factor in men as it is in women although, semen parameters and function are more often compromised in men over age 50 compared to younger men.
• Primary female factors contribute at least 40% of infertility cases.
• Male factors are solely responsible in approximately 20% of couples experiencing infertility and contributory in another 30-40%.
• Unexplained infertility, where no cause can be determined, may occur in 10-15% of couples experiencing difficulty conceiving.

When To Make An Appointment With An Infertility Doctor

As you explore your options, you will want to work with the right physicians and the right facility to develop a treatment plan that works for you. Scheduling your first appointment with a fertility specialists is a big first step! If you have more questions on what infertility treatment option is best for you, please contact us for a free initial consultation. We are here to help.