Home > Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine > Infertility

Definition

Infertility is the failure of a couple to conceive a pregnancy after trying to do so for at least one full year. In primary infertility, pregnancy has never occurred. In secondary infertility, one or both members of the couple have previously conceived, but are unable to conceive again after a full year of trying.

Description

Approximately 20% of couples struggle with infertility at any given time. Infertility has increased as a problem over the last 30 years. Some studies blame this increase on social phenomena, including the tendency for marriage and starting a family to occur at a later age. For women, fertility decreases with increasing age:

• Infertility in married women ages 16–20 = 4.5%.
• Infertility in married women ages 35–40 = 31.8%.
• Infertility in married women over the age of 40 =...