What is infertility?
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. It affects an estimated 15% of couples globally.
Some key facts about infertility:
- It can be caused by issues in either the male or female partner. Some common causes include:
- Irregular ovulation or lack of ovulation in women
- Low sperm count or quality in men
- Blocked fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis
- Previous sterilization procedures
- Both genetic and lifestyle factors can play a role. Risk increases with age, smoking, alcohol use, stress, and being overweight.
- After age 30, fertility starts to slowly decline in women. After 35, the decline speeds up.
- Men remain fertile longer, but sperm quality still diminishes with age.
- Common treatments include fertility medications to stimulate ovulation, artificial insemination, and assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF).
- Early evaluation and treatment are important. After 12 months of being unable to conceive or 6 months for women over 35, seeing a fertility specialist is recommended.
Coping emotionally with infertility can be very difficult. Partners may feel stress, grief, anger, isolation, or relationship strain. Support groups and mental health counseling can help significantly.
The good news is that most couples with infertility who seek medical treatment go on to have a successful pregnancy. Advancements in reproductive medicine now allow more options for conceiving than ever before.