Infertility is More Common Than You Think

Share This Post

If you’re struggling with infertility, it can be hard to imagine that anyone would understand what you are going through. Many women and couples who find themselves facing infertility mention feelings of loneliness and isolation surrounding their struggle– but there’s no need to feel this way. You are not alone.

Considerable Statistics

Roughly nine percent of US men and eleven percent of US women who are of reproductive age experience problems with infertility. The root of fertility issues tends to be an even split between three factors: male infertility, female infertility, and instances where the cause of infertility can be traced to both partners or cannot be determined.

Before even continuing, consider this: 7.4 million women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four experience difficulty getting and staying pregnant every year.

To put that in perspective, consider this: If you work in an office of twenty people, for example, there’s a good chance that another person or two is going through their own silent struggle with fertility issues, too.

Most couples begin to panic about the state of their fertility once they’ve tried for a baby for some time without results. The fact of the matter is that twelve to fifteen percent of couples fail to conceive after one full year of unprotected sex. Mainstream media and other resources tend to recite the same tired advice about infertility if pregnancy doesn’t occur within a year, but twelve months without conception is far from rare.

Potential Signs and Symptoms of Infertility

Men and women will, of course, experience infertility and potential symptoms of it in various ways; but it’s also critical to remember that even people of the same biological sex can have vastly different experiences with infertility.

The lists below serve as a great reference point and springboard for those who believe they may have fertility troubles, but speaking with a specialist is the only way to determine your situation.

Signs of infertility in men include:

  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Trouble ejaculating or irregular ejaculate
  • Changes in the testicles
  • Obesity

Signs of infertility in women include:

  • Trouble conceiving
  • Irregular periods
  • Hormonal changes
  • Endometriosis
  • Obesity

Infertility is an incredibly common roadblock for those who are looking to begin building a family and even those who’ve already begun the process. Couples should consult with a fertility specialist about fertility problems if they have had unprotected sex for 1 year without a successful pregnancy.

Exceptions to this recommendation apply to women older than age 35 who have had 6 months of unprotected sex without a successful pregnancy, Women who suspect they may have underlying problems that will affect fertility, and individuals who have been diagnosed with specific conditions that are known to reduce fertility. Read more about when you should seek help from an infertility doctor, here.

Those who feel worried or hopeless about a future with infertility have a wealth of options when it comes to treatment and other means of creating their family. If you or a loved one is struggling with infertility, the first step to resolution is speaking with a fertility specialist.

Learn more about IVF and how to prepare for this decision by calling Reproductive Fertility Center today. Book your appointment online at www.reproductivefertilitycenter.com/locations-contact/ or call our main office at (949) 453-8600. Dial (626) 388-6022 for Chinese 中文.

Join Our e-Members Club!

Be part of RFC e-Members Club to receive exclusive news and announcements!

More To Explore