If you’ve been trying to conceive and haven’t gotten pregnant yet, you might be wondering if you’re dealing with infertility. First, know that you’re not alone—millions of people face this challenge. Second, support and hope are available.
What Is Infertility?
Medically, infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse for women under 35, or after 6 months for women 35 and older. Evaluation might happen sooner for couples where a male partner has known fertility issues, or when a woman has irregular periods or other reproductive health concerns.
The first important factor to keep in mind is that infertility is a medical condition, not a personal failing. About 1 in 8 couples experience infertility¹, so it is far more common than many people realize. The World Health Organization reports that approximately 1 in 6 people experience infertility during their lifetime².
Primary and Secondary Infertility
Primary infertility occurs when a couple has never been able to conceive, whereas secondary infertility happens when someone has been pregnant before, but is now unable to conceive.
Infertility can stem from female factors (about 35% of cases), male factors (about 35%), a combination of both (about 20%), or unexplained causes (about 10%)³.
It’s No One’s Fault
It is essential to understand is that infertility is not caused by stress, past decisions, or something you did or didn’t do. While lifestyle factors can play a role in fertility, infertility is primarily a medical condition with various underlying causes that are often beyond one’s control.
Moving Forward
If you are having difficulty getting pregnant, reach out to your OB/GYN. They can be the first step to getting medical support on your fertility journey. You might find yourself seeing a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist, but your OB will help assess your individual situation and guide you toward the path that’s best for you. Give yourself the gift of support in what can be a stressful situation. You deserve compassion, especially for yourself during this time.
