What is infertility? In general, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex. Because fertility in women is known to decline steadily with age, some providers evaluate and treat women aged 35 years or older after 6 months of unprotected sex.
An estimated 1 in 10 women between the ages of 15 and 44 have trouble conceiving.
Women who have pregnancy problems may lose the baby:
Types of infertility include:
Your healthcare provider may ask you to record signs of ovulation, such as basal body temperature and cervical mucus. You may also use a home ovulation kit.
These tests can also help diagnose or rule out a female fertility problem:
These tests can help diagnose or rule out a male fertility problem:
Women under the age of 35 who aren’t pregnant after one year of trying should see a healthcare provider. You should seek help sooner (after six months of trying) if you’re older than 35. A woman’s chances of getting pregnant decrease with age. A 30-year-old woman is half as fertile as a 20-year-old woman.
Regardless of gender, you should seek help early if you have a risk factor that affects fertility.
Treatments for infertility include:
Treatments for male infertility include:
Some couples need more help conceiving. To increase pregnancy odds, a woman may first take medications to stimulate ovulation before trying one of these options:
Credit to: Cleveland Clinic