Epidemiology
Estimated that infertility affects 1 in 7 heterosexual couples in the UK
- since 2004 there has been a small increase in the prevalence of fertility problems, and a greater proportion of people now seeking help for such problems
- women with primary infertility are twice as likely to obtain treatment as those with secondary infertility
- a male factor is responsible for a couple's infertility in about 30% of cases
- in the last 50 years there has been a documented fall in sperm concentration (a Danish group reported a fall in sperm concentration from 113 million per mL to 66 million per mL between 1938 and 1990)
- in the last 50 years there has been a documented fall in sperm concentration (a Danish group reported a fall in sperm concentration from 113 million per mL to 66 million per mL between 1938 and 1990)
- main causes of infertility in the UK are (percent figures indicate approximate prevalence) (1):
- unexplained infertility (no identified male or female cause) (25%)
- ovulatory disorders (25%)
- tubal damage (20%)
- factors in the male causing infertility (30%)
- uterine or peritoneal disorders (10%).
- in about 40% of cases disorders are found in both the man and the woman. Uterine or endometrial factors, gamete or embryo defects, and pelvic conditions such as endometriosis may also play a role
- about half of couples with infertility eventually conceive
- young age, a relatively short period of infertility, and the absence of factors such as bilateral tubal obstruction, azoospermia and prolonged amenorrhoea increase the chances of success
- three percent of couples with unexplained infertility conceive each month independently of treatment.
Reference:
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