Probability of Experiencing Infertility

The CDC reports that about 12% of women aged 15-44 in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term (impaired fecundity). Among married women actively trying to conceive, about 6% are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying (infertility).

Infertility affects both men and women roughly equally. In about one-third of cases, the problem is with the female partner; in one-third, it's with the male partner; and in the remaining third, both partners have issues or the cause is unexplained. Common female factors include ovulation disorders, fallopian tube damage, and endometriosis. Common male factors include low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and abnormal sperm shape.

Age is the single most important factor affecting female fertility, with a significant decline after age 35 and a steep drop after 40. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), account for about 2% of all US births. The average cost of one IVF cycle is $15,000-$30,000, and many insurance plans do not cover fertility treatment.