Common classes of fertility problems:
- Ovulatory failure (including polycystic ovary syndrome): 20%
- Tubal damage: 15%
- Endometrosis : 5%
- Male problems: 26%
- Unexplained: 30%
- Combination: (more than 2 factors): 4%
Infertility data for the U.S. (data published in CDC)
- Number of women ages 15-44 with impaired fecundity (impaired ability to have children): 7.3 million
- Percent of women ages 15-44 with impaired fecundity: 11.8%
- Number of married women ages 15-44 that are infertile (unable to get pregnant for at least 12 consecutive months): 2.1 million
- Percent of married women ages 15-44 that are infertile: 7.4%
- Number of women ages 15-44 who have ever used infertility services: 7.3 million
About one-thirds of couples in which the women is over 35 have fertility problems. Today, about 20% of women in the US have their first child after age 35.
Infertility in men:
- Variococele: the veins on one's testicles are too big and generate too much heat affecting the number or shape of the sperm.
- Few or no sperm
- Sperm motility is low
Infertility risk factors:
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol drinking
- Under-or overweight
- Drugs
- Environmental toxins, lead and pesticides
- Medications
- Radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer
- Stress
- Ages
- Health problems
One thirds of couples treated for infertility go on to have babies.
IVF or ART success rate in 2007 (CDC reports, US):
Under 35 years of age: 39.6%
Age 35-37: 30.5%
Age 38-40: 20.9%
Age 41-42:11.5%
IVF data: HFEA (UK)(BBC news)/ Success rates in 2007
Under 35: 32.3%
35-37: 27.7%
38-39: 19.2%
40-42: 11.9%
43-44: 3.4%
Over 44: 3.1%
Infertility websites
Womenshealth.gov (US department of health & human services)
Fertility statistics and facts (Docshop.com)
