About Infertility

Infertility affects more than 15 percent of couples trying to get pregnant. It is defined as the “inability to conceive within one year despite having unprotected sexual intercourse.” For average fertile couples trying to have a baby, the chance of succeeding in any given month is approximately 20 percent. If a couple tries for 12 months, the chance of achieving a pregnancy falls to under three percent. It is at this 12-month point when a couple often seeks medical help.

Infertility affects both men and women. Problems with sperm account for almost 40 percent of infertility. Problems affecting women include ovulatory dysfunction, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, and endometriosis. (See graph.)

Age and Infertility

In both sexes, fertility declines with age, but age-related fertility problems are far more likely in women. In men, fertility declines after age 50, but for women, fertility begins to decline at age 30. If you are a woman age 35 or older, consult your physician if you experience one year without conception and possibly sooner if you have hormonal problems or other medical conditions. Why? You are more likely to experience fertility difficulties and have less time to pursue treatment options. In the United States, 20 percent of women have their first child after age 35. A woman that age has half the chance of achieving a successful pregnancy as does a woman age 25.

Only four percent of women ages 15 to 24 have infertility problems. That statistic more than triples to 13 percent between the ages of 24 and 34. By age 40, more than a third of women experience fertility problems; 87 percent of women are infertile by age 45.

Several factors may make a fertility evaluation more useful before one year’s time:

1) history of sexually transmitted diseases for you or your partner,
2) previous surgery or damage to reproductive organs,
3) history of serious illness, such as cancer,
4) hormonal problems, and
5) exposure to radiation or toxins.

Greenville Hospital System Women's Hospital has a Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Program that specifically addresses the needs of women who conceive but lose their pregnancies. Ask one of our nurses for more information about this program, call 864-455-1600.

Next: REI Treatment Options