Infertility is the inability to get pregnant or failure to conceive after one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It can affect 10-15% of couples trying to conceive. Over 80% of couples having regular sexual intercourse should conceive within one year if the woman is below 40 years old.
To get pregnant, there are several processes that must happen. The woman’s body must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation). This egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the womb. The man’s sperm must travel through the vagina, womb and go through the fallopian tube to join with (fertilise) the egg. Then the fertilised egg (embryo) must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation). Anything that may hinder or interfere with any of these steps may cause infertility. In about about 25-30% of couples, no obvious causes of infertility can be found.
Infertility is classified into two main types:
Primary infertility
Primary infertility refers to couples that have never been able to conceive naturally after one year of engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse. This is often diagnosed when there is no successful history of pregnancy and the couple has been trying to conceive for a long time.
Secondary infertility
Secondary infertility refers to couples who have previously conceived naturally and are unable to conceive again after one year of regular unprotected intercourse. This type of infertility can occur after either a live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Secondary infertility may arise due to new health conditions or complications that have developed since the previous conception.
Both types of infertility can be caused by factors affecting either the male, female or both. It is essential to seek medical advice if pregnancy has not occurred after a year of trying, particularly if the woman is over the age of 35.
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