What is Infertilty?

Infertility is diagnosed when a couple does not get pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. Primary infertility is the term describing couples who have never conceieved. Secondary infertility is the term used when a couple has achieved pregnancy previously regardless of whether the pregnancy was carried to term or not. 30% of infertile women are primary infertile while 70% have had one or more pregnancies previously. 8-10% of women between the ages of 15-44 will have difficulty getting pregnant. These numbers can vary between different cultures. It is the responsibility of the infertility specialitst to diagnose and inform the patient throroughly about their chances of conceiving. Particularly among women over the age of 35, or women who have been tested to have decreased chance of getting pregnant should be advised of ways to speed up the process.