Use our infertility stats to learn more about infertility that affects so many couples
Getting pregnant can be tricky business. And for many couples experiencing infertility, conceiving is a lot harder than most people think. These infertility stats may help clear the picture.
Infertility is the inability to conceive after one year of trying with unprotected intercourse for couples in which the female is under 35. However, if she is 35 or older, the evaluation should begin after 6 months of trying unsuccessfully to conceive. If a couple has an obvious medical problem affecting their ability to conceive, such as absence of periods, sexual dysfunction, a history of pelvic disease, or prior surgery, they should begin the infertility evaluation immediately.
Physical issues and lifestyle choices can both affect the ability to conceive.
Age, physical health and lifestyle choices, such as smoking and diet, can contribute to a person’s fertility, and we know that infertility affects both men and women. And, the decisions you make today can impact your fertility and ability to have kids later. It’s important to learn all you can about your fertility. Use the infertility stats below to help improve your knowledge.
1 in 6 couples have trouble getting pregnant
Approximately one in six couples are affected by infertility globally. That’s about 6.7 million people each year who have trouble conceiving.
The natural fertility rate is only 20%
Mother Nature’s natural fertility rate is only about 20% per month for a healthy, fertile 30-year-old woman. That means that for every 100 fertile 30-year-old women trying to get pregnant in one cycle, 20 will be successful and the other 80 will have to try again.
Fertility begins to decline at about 35 years old
Thirty-five is the average age of females when their natural fertility begins to show a marked decline. A woman’s best reproductive years are in her 20s. By age 40, a woman’s natural chance of pregnancy is less than 5% per cycle.
30/30/30/10 ratios attribute the cause among both partners
Fertility experts agree that, on average, 30% of the cases of infertility they see can be attributed solely to the female, 30% solely to the male, 30% a combination of both partners, and in 10% of cases the cause is unknown.
90% of infertility cases can be overcome through science
Luckily, nearly 90% of infertility cases are treatable with medical therapies such as drug treatment, surgical repair of reproductive organs and assisted reproductive techniques such as intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization.
35% of infertility in women is due to damaged fallopian tubes
For women experiencing infertility, over one-third can trace their problem back to tubal factors. This includes blocked tubes due to infection or endometriosis, plus factors affecting the peritoneum (lining of the pelvis and abdomen), all fall under this category.
25% of infertility in women is linked to ovulation
Another quarter of all women having trouble conceiving can link their infertility to problems with ovulation, making it one of the most common causes of infertility.
60% of women who have miscarriages will be able to have a healthy pregnancy
Recurring miscarriages and pregnancy loss may indicate underlying problems for women trying to conceive. However, 60% of women who experience recurring miscarriages go on to have healthy pregnancies and births without further treatment.
A 5-10% weight loss can dramatically improve conception
A weight loss of 5% to 10% may dramatically improve ovulation and pregnancy rates in women who are considered obese. Obesity may also cause an increased risk of miscarriage and decreased success with fertility treatments.
A sperm count of below 10 million is considered poor
A healthy sperm count is above 40 million, and a count of 10 million or less is considered low. Men with sperm counts between 10 and 40 million may still cause a pregnancy if the sperm has good motility, movement, and morphology, or shape.
Less than 3% of infertility patients need advanced treatments like IVF
While vital for some patients, in vitro fertilization and similar treatments account for less than 3% of infertility services, and about (or approximately) seven hundredths of one percent (0.07%) of U.S. health care costs.
The success of IVF has increased from 5% to over 45%
Since IVF was pioneered in the late 1970s, advances in technology have increased the success rates of the procedure drastically.
IVF paired with PGT-A can bring success rates to about 60%
Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, or PGT-A, tests the embryo to determine if it has the right number of chromosomes. Embryos with chromosomal problems, a phenomenon which occurs at conception when the sperm and egg meet up, is one reason why implantation fails during an IVF cycle. Testing ensures that the most viable embryos are transferred.
8,000,000+ babies born worldwide via IVF
Since 1978, over 8 million babies worldwide have been conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) since the procedure was developed.
Contact us to begin your fertility journey today.
