Chances are if you are here, you already know infertility is defined as the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after 12 months of trying to conceive. Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples, men and women equally. The disease is treated through a variety of ways, including Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART).
Whether you are part of the 12% of couples in the United States that have been labeled “infertile” or you have chosen to seek reproductive assistance for any number of other reasons (e.g. same sex couples), you’re not alone.
No matter how you ended up on this path, the road can be long and stressful, and full of ups and downs. Know that we support you and your process.
Statistics
- About 7% of men (4.7 million) and about 11% of women (6.7 million) of reproductive age in the United States have experienced fertility problems.
- Studies suggest that after one year of having unprotected sex, 12% to 15% of couples are unable to conceive, and after two years, 10% of couples still have not had a live-born baby.
- ⅓ of infertility cases are male factor, ⅓ are female factor, and ⅓ are both.
- More than 1 million babies have been born via ART.
- One study suggests that half of women undergoing fertility treatment find it the most upsetting experience of their lives.
- Another study suggests that over 80% of women undergoing infertility have anxiety.
Sources
How Common Is Infertility? – National Institutes of Health
Causes of Infertility – ReproductiveFacts.org
The psychological impact of infertility and its treatment – Harvard Health Publishing
A survey of relationship between anxiety, depression and duration of infertility – National Center for Biotechnology Information