Facts about infertility

. Fertility disorders are quite common: the estimations have shown that they affect about 15 % of the German couples. To become pregnant is a matter of luck. For normally fertile couples, the monthly probability of becoming pregnant is about 25 %. The probability decreases as the age of the woman increases. For couples having fertility disorders, this probability on a monthly basis is lower. Reduced fertility is described in medical terminology as “subfertility”.

. A distinction is made between couples, who have not yet achieved pregnancy in the course of their relationship (so-called “primary” subfertility), and couples, who have already achieved pregnancy at an earlier point of time, but finally it has not worked out. (“secondary” subfertility). Thus, couples with children and couples having a miscarriage in their prehistory both fall into the latter category.

• In women under 35, subfertility is defined as an unsuccessful trying to become pregnant for the period longer than 12 months. In women over 35, this period of time is reduced to 6 months of unsuccessful trying.
• Women with menstrual disorders – an indication of an ovulation problem – can take diagnostic clarification and treatment into consideration, if this problem has been identified.
• In Germany, fertility disorders occur in approximately one out of seven couples. Infertility has nothing to do with race or ethnic origin.
• The term “infertile” should be actually applied solely to couples, having no prospect of getting pregnant spontaneously.