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Introduction to Female Infertility
What is Female Infertility
In order for successful conception and implantation to occur, the following four conditions must be present:
The male partner must be able to produce an adequate number of viable sperm and be able to deposit them into the female partner's vagina during the time she is ovulating.
The female partner must have normal menstrual and ovulatory function.
The female partner's fallopian tubes must be sufficiently patent and mobile so that the ovum (egg) can pass from the ovary to the uterus thereby making fertilization possible.
The female partner's uterus must be capable of supporting implantation of the fertilized egg and also support fetal growth and development during pregnancy.
Approximately 85% of couples attempting conception through regular unprotected intercourse will be successful within 12-months. Infertility is defined as 1-year of regular unprotected intercourse during which the female partner fails to become pregnant. Infertility is one of the most common chronic health disorders in young adults. In the United States, the prevalence of infertility has been estimated to be 15% to 20%, affecting more than 6 million couples. The rate of infertility is significantly higher among older as compared to younger couples.
Over the past few decades, many women have chosen to postpone marriage as they enter the work-force and pursue careers. Consequently, it is not unusual nowadays for many women to delay pregnancy until they reach age 35 or older. As a result, the average age of childbearing has increased over the past 30 years. It is, therefore, more common for women age 35 or older who have delayed childbearing to seek help for infertility from a health care provider than for women in their 20s or early 30s.
