Definition of Infertility:

Infertility means you cannot make a baby (conceive).

Infertility is grouped into two categories:

• Primary infertility refers to couples who have not become pregnant after at least 1 year of unprotected sex (intercourse).
• Secondary infertility refers to couples who have been pregnant at least once, but never again.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

A wide range of physical and emotional factors can cause infertility. Infertility may be due to problems in the woman, man, or both.

FEMALE INFERTILITY:

Female infertility may occur when:

• A fertilized egg or embryo does not survive once it sticks to the lining of the womb (uterus)
• The fertilized egg does not attach to the lining of the uterus
• The eggs cannot move from the ovaries to the womb
• The ovaries have problems producing eggs

Female infertility may be caused by:

• Autoimmune disorders, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
• Cancer or tumor
• Clotting disorders
• Diabetes
• Growths (such as fibroids or polyps) in the uterus and cervix
• Birth defects that affect the reproductive tract
• Excessive exercising
• Eating disorders or poor nutrition
• Use of certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Obesity
• Older age
• Ovarian cysts and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Pelvic infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Scarring from sexually transmitted infection or endometriosis
• Thyroid disease
• Too little or too much hormones

MALE INFERTILITY:

Male infertility may be due to:

• A decrease in sperm count
• Sperm being blocked from being released
• Sperm that do not work properly

Male infertility can be caused by:

• Environmental pollutants
• Being in high heat for prolonged periods
• Birth defects
• Heavy use of alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine
• Too little or too much hormones
• Impotence
• Infection
• Older age
• Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation
• Scarring from sexually transmitted diseases, injury, or surgery
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Smoking
• Use of certain drugs, such as cimetidine, spironolactone, and nitrofurantoin

In healthy couples under age 30 who have sex regularly, the chance of getting pregnant is about 25 - 30% per month.

A woman's peak fertility occurs in her early 20s. After age 35 (and especially 40), the chances that a woman can get pregnant drops considerably.